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DIAN MEN OF ACTION 



BROCK 




HUGH S. EAYRS 




Gass r,3 5 3 
Book_J 



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CANADIAN MEN OF ACTION 



SIR ISAAC BROCK 



SIR ISAAC BROCK 



BY 
HUGH S, EAYRS 



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD. 
TORONTO : : J : : MCMXVIII 



E3S3 

.BSE 14 



Copyright, Canada, 1918, 

By the macmillan company 
of canada, ltd. 



\ 

( 

\ 



To 

My Father, 
George Eayrs, F.R. Hist. S., 

Whose passion for and services in the 
name of history are at once my inspir- 
ation and my pride. 



PREFACE 

As THIS book is published, Canada is celebrating 
her fiftieth birthday. The thoughts of all of us 
travel back along the line of those fifty years since 
Confederation swept away all divisions and 
made the people of what is now Canada one in 
name, that they might become one in purpose, 
ideal, and spirit. We see our country served by 
a succession of great men. Their greatness con- 
sisted in trying to weld Canada into this oneness 
and in trying to develop our illimitable resources. 
For this fifty years and for the fifty before it, 
Canada had no war to engage her attention until, 
in 1914, she joined with Great Britain in the Great 
War that the world might be "made safe for 
democracy." 

While we look with pride at the progress our 
country has made during this time of peace, we 
may well go further back and see some of the 
ultimate contributory factors. And as we do this 
we shall see that in those troublous days as in 



VIII PREFACE 

the calmer that succeeded them, the history of 
Canada gathers itself round two or three men. 
One of these Is Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. 

Brock Is called "The hero of Upper Canada." 
That he undoubtedly was, but he was more. 
He was the hero of Canada, for while his efforts 
both as soldier and statesman were peculiarly for 
one province, their effect was felt by Canadians 
of later days from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
Indeed It Is not too much to say that Brock's 
part In the War of 1812-14 made fast and sure 
what Is now the Dominion of Canada for the 
British Empire. This makes him at once the 
primal hero of Canada. We have our other heroes. 
The names of Frontenac, Wolfe, Montcalm, 
Carleton, and others stand out from Canada's 
"storied page" and deservedly so, but not one of 
them served our country In a way eventually so 
signal as did Brock. Wolfe conquered the French ; 
Carleton defended Canada against Invasion In 
1776; but their work had not the crucial quality 
of Brock's. 

He was certainly a man of action, and his 
biography is fittingly the first title In a series of 
Canadian Men of Action. The older nations of 
the world have their great ones. France has 
its Joan of Arc, Italy its Garibaldi, Russia its 



PREFACE IX 

Peter, and Britain its Arthur and its Alfred. In 
ten short years in Canada, Brock accomplished 
much, for while he lost his life but four months 
after war was declared, it was his action and, 
after, his spirit which animated the defence of his 
adopted country against invasion. In considering 
him and the noble part he played we may well 
contrast this man of action with another, who 
drew his sword three years ago not that he might 
help to establish peace, but for his own selfish 
end of vainglory. Brock, like thousands of 
Canadians to-day, fought for honor and that his 
country might be free. The spirit of Brock 
animates Canada to-day, and "the brave live on." 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 
Early Years 



Page 



CHAPTER n 
Egmont-op-Zee and Copenhagen . . 12 

CHAPTER HI 
Canada: Mutiny in the 49th . . 21 

CHAPTER IV 
Rumors of War 32 

CHAPTER V 
Moved to Upper Canada ... 44 

CHAPTER VI 
A Foolish Boast 54 

XI 



XII CONTENTS 

CHAPTER VII 
Detroit Taken 65 

CHAPTER VIII 
His Hands are Tied .... 74 

CHAPTER IX 
QuEENSTON Heights 87 

CHAPTER X 

Conclusion 99 

Appendix 103 

General Hull's Proclamation , .103 

Crocks Proclamaiioi^ .... 105 



SIR ISAAC BROCK 



CHAPTER I 

Early Years 

The year 1769 was an important one for 
Europe. In it were born two men who were 
destined between them to change the face of that 
continent. These were WeUington and Napoleon. 
There was another man who first saw the Ught 
in that year. His name was Isaac Brock, and 
while his life and work were hardly comparable in 
their effect and result to those of the two great 
Europeans, they were nevertheless an important 
factor in shaping the destiny of Canada. It 
may, perhaps, be laying undue stress on the work 
he did to call General Brock the Wellington of 
Canada. Necessarily he left less mark on the 
times in which he lived than did the Iron Duke, 
for his task was less monumental and his sphere 
less wide. Yet, in relative degree, Brock's work 
was immensely important. We are beginning to 

1 



2 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

realize, a hundred years after his death, just 
how directly he affected Canada and indirectly 
Europe. It would be interesting, however, to 
speculate on just what would have been the 
result had he remained in Europe. It might, — 
who knows? — have been his as much as Welling- 
ton's to save the world from the ambitious schemes 
of Napoleon, but in the part he played, Brock 
admittedly did a very great deal to make the 
bounds of Empire "wide and wider yet." 

Isaac was born on October 6th, 1769, and was 
the eighth son of John Brock. Of his father we 
know little. He was a sailor, had been a mid- 
shipman in the navy, and his duty had carried 
him far afield, to India and other outposts. Isaac's 
birthplace was Guernsey, an island in the English 
Channel, which is one of the beauty spots of the 
world. There could have been no more fitting 
cradle for a child who was to become indeed a 
man of action than this rugged little island, with 
its rocky weather-beaten coast, stern and bold 
in outline. The heavy seas of the Channel beat 
upon it in vain, and it is possible that in after- 
life, when he was buffeted by circumstances, his 
thoughts may have gone back to his island home, 
a small but hardy defence against thundering 
waves and shrill winds and raging tempest. 



EARLY YEARS 3 

He had good blood in his veins, for, far back, 
there was a Sir Hugh Brock, a valiant knight of 
Edward HI. Sir Hugh Hved in Brittany, just 
across the Channel from England and at that 
time an English duchy. The French, however, 
bitterly mindful of Crecy and Poitiers, bided their 
time, and when Edward was old and enfeebled, 
rose and drove the English out of Northern France. 
Brittany again became French, and, when the 
English were expelled, it is thought that Sir Hugh's 
family came to the Channel Islands, which was 
like a half-way house between France and Britain, 
and there settled. 

There were other Brocks in nearer relationship 
who had won their spurs both in battle by land 
and sea and in journeyings afar. As has been 
said, Isaac's father, John Brock, was a midship- 
man and had travelled to India, in those days a 
great distance away. Another relative was the 
famous Lord de Saumarez, also a Guernsey man, 
who had distinguished himself at St. Vincent and 
at the Nile. Brock's mother was Elizabeth de 
Lisle, daughter of the lieutenant-bailiff of Guern- 
sey, a position which corresponded to that now 
held by our lieutenant-governors, an office the 
duties of which, as we shall see, Isaac Brock 
himself, in later years, discharged in Upper Canada. 



4 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

It was not, however, in family tradition and 
example alone that young Brock found inspiration 
for heroic and valorous deeds. He could not but 
be imbued with love of adventure. This island 
home of crag and headland was the vault of many 
a memory of heroic deeds, the past scene of many 
a stirring exploit of the hardy seafaring folk who 
had been its dwellers as long as ever dwellers had 
been there. Young Brock learned numberless 
stories 

" Of moving accidents by flood and field, 
Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach." 

Long, long years before, the Druids had their 
caves and catacombs tucked away in quaint 
hiding-places, and to the young adventurer these 
haunts and the tales told of them furnished idea 
and scope for many an escapade. Stories of 
Cromwellian and Stuart days, when Cavalier and 
Roundhead in turn found refuge in this land of 
his birth, and evidences of the resolute defence 
which the Islanders had offered to the m.araudings 
and attackings of the French, fostered in Brock an 
ambition to emulate the Guernsey folk who were 
dead and gone. 

So, in boyhood days, he played for a while with 
the things of nature. He became strong and 



EARLY YEARS 5 

robust. He was, like his seven brothers, tall 
and manly, a precocious boy, a better boxer, a 
stronger and bolder swimmer than any of his 
companions. He would scale jagged headland, or 
sighting Castle Cornet, a landmark half a mile 
from the shore, would brest the swiftly-running 
tide, meeting and overcoming 

" every wave with dimpled face 
That leaped upon the air." 

He did not entirely neglect his studies, but gave 
some time to reading, particularly along historical 
lines. There seems to be no doubt, however, that, 
like many another boy, his prowess in games was 
gained at the expense of his education. At the 
age of ten he was sent to school at Southampton, 
and later was at Rotterdam, where his tutor was a 
French pastor. Neither his parents nor himself 
would be aware, at that time, of the use that the 
knowledge of French he there acquired would be 
to him when he came to Canada later on. 

He chose his profession early in life. For him 
there could be only two careers, the navy or the 
army. Guernsey men, from time immemorial, 
had favored the services as a means of earning 
their living, for the love of adventure was in- 
grained in the people. Besides, Brock had two 
brothers in the army. 



i SIR ISAAC BROCK 

One brother, Ferdinand, had been in the 60th 
Regiment, and when Isaac was a lad of ten, had 
given his life at the defence of Baton Rouge, on 
the Mississippi, fighting against the colonial 
revolutionists. The other, John Brock, was a 
captain in the 8th, known as the King's Regiment, 
and probably with the idea of being near his 
brother, Isaac in 1785 purchased a commission as 
ensign in the 8th. Thus he had in John a hand 
and mind steadied and practised by reason of ten 
years' service to guide and help him in the career 
he had chosen. 

Isaac was keenly enthusiastic about this new 
life, and his brother's example spurred in him the 
ambition to be a distinguished soldier. His love 
for history and his liking for serious reading stood 
him in good stead. He had had, perhaps, too 
much sport and too little study in those Guernsey 
days. He allotted his time differently now, and 
sedulously spent some hours each day locked in 
with his books. He was wise enough to know 
that he was not too well-equipped for his work. 
These were the years when his mind was receptive 
and plastic, and he used them well. He served 
five years and purchased his lieutenancy in 1790, 
when he w^s twenty-one. These were uneventful 
and quiet days, but they were days of preparation. 



EARLY DAYS 7 

Barrack-room and camp taught him the essential 
elements of soldierliness. He returned to Guern- 
sey, for he had been quartered in England, and 
raised an independent company. This he com- 
manded with the rank of captain, being placed on 
half-pay. The quietness and sameness of soldiering 
in England palled on him, however, and in the 
next year he arranged a transfer to the 49th 
Regiment, then quartered in the Barbadoes. 
These were the men whom he was to learn to love, 
and many of whom fought with him when, some 
years later, he received his death wound. 

Joining his regiment in Barbadoes, he served 
there and later in Jamaica. There is a story told 
of him at this time which shows that the courage 
of the boy who had been the hero of a hundred 
daring escapades was his distinguishing mark in 
young manhood. A captain in the 49th, who was 
a crack shot, was the bully of the mess. Brock, who 
treated him with indifference, was singled out as 
a mark for his insult and was involved in a duel. 
The braggart was a little man, but Brock was six 
feet two — not a difficult target. Brock had the 
right, as he had been challenged, to name the 
conditions of the duel. When the party reached 
the grounds where the duel was to take place. 
Brock drew out his handkerchief and insisted that 



8 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

he and his opponent should fight their duel across 
it. This would minimize the disadvantage of his 
own great height. The bully, recognizing that for 
once he was fighting with equal chance to kill or be 
killed, refused the condition and fled. His brother 
oflficers declared that Brock had won a moral if 
not an actual victory, and they and he compelled 
the expulsion of the bully from the regiment. 

Shortly after this incident the 49th moved to 
Jamaica. Though he enjoyed the more eventful 
life there, Brock was a product of a hardier clime 
and could not stand the enervating air of the 
tropics. He fell a victim to fever and indeed 
nearly died of it. His man, Dobson, tended and 
restored him, and Brock, big-hearted and kindly 
then as later, never forgot what he owed to his 
trusty servant. Dobson remained with him till 
his death, which took place a short time before 
Brock set out on the expedition against Detroit. 

In 1793 Brock returned to England on sick 
leave and re-visited his old home, there to regain 
his health and strength. Subsequently, until the 
return of his regiment from Jamaica, he was 
engaged in the recruiting service. While employed 
in this most important work he kept up his hours of 
study, fitting himself for the greater things to 
come. 



SIR ISAAC F5R0CK 9 

In 1795, he purchased his majority, and in 
1797, at the age of twenty-eight and after only 
twelve years service, was gazetted Heutenant- 
colonel of his regiment, soon afterwards becoming 
the senior officer. 

As commander of the 49th he had no easy 
position. The morale of his men on their return 
from abroad was bad. The former commander 
was a poor discipUnarian, and his men had been 
allowed to get out of hand. 

These were queer days in the services. The men 
in the navy were in a perpetual state of mutiny. 
There had been cases where the seamen had risen 
and murdered their officers. There had been a 
lack of actual naval fighting for some time, and the 
consequent dullness, added to the poor pay, made 
the navy a somewhat ragged and discontented 
unit. The seamen usually took the lead in revolt, 
and the soldiers sympathized with them. In the 
army there was additional reason. The officers 
were often bullies. Different ideas of discipline 
were held from those we know to-day. The 
average British officer terrorized over his men. 
He punished them heavily for the slightest offence. 
It was considered the proper thing to give a man 
fifty lashes or so for a mild misdemeanor, such as 
having dirty boots on parade, and on that scale 



10 EARLY DAYS 

the punishment was allowed to (.ver-fit the crime. 
Bad barrack-room conditions and little leave 
were other reasons for growing discontent which 
smouldered, and then broke out in mutiny. 

So far as his own regiment was concerned, 
Brock showed his ability to solve this problem of 
lax discipline. He was indefatigable in his efforts 
to familiarize himself with what was wrong, and 
unwearying in the task of setting it right. As we 
have already seen, he was thorough in whatever 
he did. It was so now. He never relaxed vigi- 
lance and rested little either day or night. When 
he slept, it was with pistols ready to his hand. 
Daily he would make the round of the barracks. 
Whatever displeased him he ordered changed and 
frequently he would tear down insurgent notices 
from the walls with his own hand. He tempered 
justice with kindliness. He was aware that 
former regimental rulers had tried the patience of 
the men a good deal, and he made generous 
allowance for this in his own treatment. By so 
doing he won them over to himself, and they 
learned to respect and love him. The men knew 
that he would insist on rigid discipline and orderli- 
ness, but they knew too that on their side they 
might count on justice, not unmixed with gener- 
osity and affectionate regard. Brock made a 



SIR ISAAC BROCK 11 

great change in the temper and behavior of the 
49th. When the Duke of York inspected the 
regiment, therefore, he put himself on record that 
the 49th, under Brock's direction, had become 
instead of one of the worst regiments in the ser- 
vice, one of the best. 



CHAPTER II 
EGMONT-OP-ZEE AND COPENHAGEN 

Brock was soon to realize his dream of active 
service. Europe was in a turmoil. Bonaparte's 
ambition was insatiable, and unless effective 
opposition was oiiered quickly, he was in a fair 
way to over-run the Continent. England, under 
Pitt, was averse to participation in the Continental 
wars, but the prime minister saw that to keep 
out meant real danger. In 1798 Pitt agreed with 
Russia that an army should be sent to Holland, 
which was at that time occupied by France under 
the name of the Batavian Republic. The ultimate 
aim of the allies was to seize Northern France, 
and thus hold Bonaparte in check. Of the 25,000 
men which England agreed to send, the 49th, 
Brock's regiment, was a part. 

In early August of 1799 the first detachment of 
this invading army, 10,000 men, left England, under 
command of Sir Ralph Abercromby. He was to 
pave the way for the larger allied force under the 
Duke of York, which would leave as soon as the 

12 



EGMONT-OP-ZEE AND COPENHAGEN 13 

advance guard had landed in Holland. Brock took 
his men with Sir Ralph. The 49th was part of the 
brigade commanded by Major-General John Moore, 
who, later, fell at Corunna in Spain. 

Nearly two hundred vessels were needed to 
convey Abercromby's division. Ships were dif- 
ferent in those days from the great transports 
that have carried our own Canadians to France. 
The expedition set off in fair enough weather, 
but hardly had they set sail before they encoun- 
tered real opposition in the heavy seas and strong 
winds of the North Sea. It was not till two 
weeks later, towards the end of August, that they 
were able to anchor off the Dutch coast. While 
the army landed, the fleet fired heavy volleys on 
the enemy's position on the low sand hills which 
fringed the shore. A few hours later the British 
occupied the Helder Peninsula, though it cost 
them hours of stern fighting and the loss of a 
thousand men. 

The weather continued against the invaders. 
The British had no protection from the heavy rains 
and bitter winds, and they could do nothing but 
await reinforcements. Meanwhile they had several 
short and sharp, but minor engagements. In a 
few days the Duke of York arrived with the 
remainder of the British forces, about 7,000, and 



14 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

was joined shortly afterwards b}^ 10,000 Russians. 
Much time was taken up by the landings and the 
adjusting of the forces, during which the enemy, 
protected from the storms, made strong-er his 
position. On September 19th the Duke ordered 
an attack on Bergen, but the Russians, who were 
impetuous and unused to military discipline, 
blundered badly, and the attack failed. 

On October 2nd a more determined attack was 
made upon Bergen, during which Moore's brigade 
led the advance along the sand to Egmont-op-Zee. 
This was Brock's first real battle. The enemy, 
concealed in the sand-dunes, offered heavy opposi- 
tion. The 49th, with the rest of the 4th Brigade, 
were the advance guard for a column of 10,000 
men under Sir Ralph Abercromby, and moved 
along the low-lying coast line for five or six miles 
before they were halted by what Brock described 
as gunfire comparable to "a sea in a heavy storm." 
General Moore ordered the 25th and then the 
79th to charge. The 49th came up on the left of 
the 79th, and while they were held ready. Brock, 
disregarding personal safety, rode out to view the 
position. He returned, and taking six companies, 
which left Lieutenant-Colonel SheafTe, his regimen- 
tal second in command, in charge of the other four, 
covering his left, cried "Charge!" 



EGMONT-OP-ZEE AND COPENHAGEN 15 

The men crashed forward, in sorry array from 
the point of view of order, but with such daring 
and boldness that the enemy fled before them. 
This was Brock's first victory, and a real victory 
it was, though it cost him over a hundred men 
and several officers. Brock, describing the action, 
wrote to his home that '* nothing could exceed the 
gallantry of my men in the charge." He himself 
had a narrow escape. He was looking over the 
ground he had taken when a bullet struck him, 
and, says his brother Savery, who was an aide to 
General Moore, and present, "the violence of the 
blow was so great as to stun and dismount him, 
and his holsters were also shot through." Luckily 
he was wearing a thick muffler over his cravat, 
and the bullet did not penetrate to his neck. 

Savery Brock shared his brother's indomitable 
courage. He was paymaster to the 49th, but 
anxious to be in at the fighting. He disregarded his 
brother's instructions and was in the thick of it. 
"By the Lord Harry, Master Savery," said Brock, 
"did I not order you, unless you remained with the 
general, to stay with your iron chest? Go back, 
sir, immediately." But Savery detected the pride 
as well as the rebuke in Isaac's tone and answered 
cheerfully: "Mind your regiment. Master Isaac! 
You surely would not have me quit the field now?" 



16 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

But though Abercromby's column was successful 
at Egmont-op-Zee, the operation against Bergen 
was a failure through the defeat of the other 
columns. The allies retreated. They were in an 
unenviable position. A winter campaign was out 
of the question, and food and supplies could be 
had only from the ships at anchor, since Holland 
was so uncertain a quantity. So the expedition 
fitted out at great expense and very hopeful of 
success, ended in the shameful abandonment of 
Holland to the French. The British returned to 
England, while the Russians wintered in the 
Channel Islands. Brock learned much from 
Egmont-op-Zee, and if on the whole the campaign 
was inglorious, his own part had been a worthy 
one and the experience was invaluable. 

Brock's regiment on its return from Holland was 
quartered in Jersey, where it remained until early 
in 1801. By this time Britain found herself forced 
tt) fight a multiplicity of foes. Even Russia had 
gone over to the enemy, whose forces daily grew 
larger and who were spending time and money in 
preparation. The line-up looked unequal. On 
the one side was Britain. On the other was France, 
Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia. Den- 
mark and Russia had a large fleet in the Baltic. 
If the fleets of these two nations should combine 



EGMONT-OP-ZEE AND COPENHAGEN 17 

with that of France, British supremacy on the 
sea would be endangered. As long as she ruled 
the waves she was safe from the schemings of 
Napoleon. Although war had not been declared, 
a naval expedition against Denmark as the pivotal 
foe was decided upon. 

Meanwhile there was more trouble in Brock's 
regiment. His second in command, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Sheafife was a brave soldier, but he laid too 
much stress on the necessity for rigid and even harsh 
rule. The men were sick of this unnecessarily 
stern disciplinarian who, unlike Brock, did not 
temper justice with kindliness, and were daily 
growing more resentful. On one occasion, when 
Brock returned after a temporary absence, his 
men on parade cheered him wildly. He sensed in 
a moment the situation. He knew that Sheaffe 
was needlessly autocratic, and he could see that 
the men had grown more and more dissatisfied. 
Still the display of rejoicing at his return was a 
flagrant breach of army discipline. Unwillingly 
enough, he ordered his men to be confined to 
barracks for a week. We can appreciate what it 
cost him, under these circumstances, to be stern. 

When the fleet was ready for action it was 
despatched to the Baltic under the command of 
Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with Nelson as second 



18 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

in command. With the fleet went a land force 
under the command of Colonel William Stewart, a 
fine soldierly man, who had the virtues of initiative 
and action; Brock with the 49th accompanied 
Colonel Stewart, to whom he stood next in sen- 
ority. When the expedition reached its destination 
it was decided to attack Copenhage^fx at once with 
a portion of the fleet and the land forces, all under 
the command of Lord Nelson. 

Brock, who with a part of his regiment had his 
station on the Ganges, had instructions to lead in 
the storming of the Trekoner batteries. The 
attack, however, did not take place. The Danes 
offered such a spirited resistance that the British 
infantry never got a chance to do their part. In 
fact, they remained inactive through the engage- 
ment. They could only wait and watch, quartered 
for the moment on the decks of British vessels, 
and suffer heavy fusillade from the Danish batteries 
and ships. The Danes pounded the British squad- 
ron hard. Brock, on the deck, had several narrow 
escapes, while his brother Savery, again to be 
found where the bullets were thickest, was firing a 
gun. Savery was momentarily stunned by grape 
shot, and Isaac rushing to him, cried: "Ah, poor 
Savery is dead." But Savery was far from dead 
and proved it by leaping to his feet with ms 



EGMONT-OP-ZEE AND COPENHAGEN 19 

usual monchalant smile, and continued behind 
his gun. 

Towards the end of the battle, Brock, accom- 
panied Captain Freemantle of the Ganges to the 
Elephant, Nelson's flagship. He saw Nelson write 
his celebrated message to the Crown Prince of 
Denmark, which ran, "Lord Nelson has directions 
to spare Denmark, when no longer resisting; but 
if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark, 
Lord Nelson will be obliged to set on fire the float- 
ing batteries he has taken, without having the 
power to save the brave Danes who have defended 
them." The Danes were compelled to bow to 
Nelson's ultimatum, and surrender. Thus the 
courage of Nelson had saved Britain from attack. 
The defeat of the Danes, followed as it was by the 
death of the Czar of Russia, broke up the coalition. 
Britain was no longer in danger. 

Brock himself learned much from the Battle of 
the Baltic. He took heed of Nelson's wise and 
bold action in continuing the engagement in the 
face of definite orders from Sir Hyde Parker to 
retire, and pigeon-holed the occurrence in his 
mind. Eleven years later he himself was to take 
a similarly bold and strong course when he sent 
his message to General Hull commanding the 
American forces at Detroit, even though his 



20 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

commander-in-chief had instructed him not to 
attack the enemy. But Brock, after Copenhagen, 
knew that it sometimes paid to risk all and say: 
"What men dare, 1 dare!" 



CHAPTER III 
Canada: Mutiny in the 49th 

Brock collected his men and returned to 
England. At Copenhagen it will be remembered 
that he had part of the regiment with him on 
the Ganges, but others had been on different 
vessels. In August of 1801 he reviewed the 49th 
at Colchester, to which place they were ordered. 
They were now experienced, in some sort, in battle 
and had shown themselves to be brave soldiers. 
Brock could look with pride on the men he had 
trained. 

In the spring of the next year the 49th Regiment 
was ordered to Canada. Probably Brock received 
his orders regretfully. It meant leaving Europe 
when in England war was daily imminent, and 
Brock, as a man of action, loved action. So did 
his men. America, at this time, was peaceable 
enough, and even had Canada been attractive in 
other ways, the commander and men of the 49th 
would rather have stayed where there was a 
prospect of fighting. Moreover, Canada was 

21 



22 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

deemed, at that time, a land of hard weather and 
few attractions. It was little known and sup- 
posed to be even less livable. The journey over 
the Atlantic was feared by some, far more than the 
fire of the enemy in battle. The 49th had no very 
pleasant memories of garrison duty, and this was 
all there was to look forward to. 

We can imagine a not very cheerful regiment 
crossing the uncertain and treacherous ocean under 
conditions much less agreeable than exist to-day. 

One wonders what must have been Brock's 
thoughts when he first saw the St. Lawrence. He 
was seaborn, and the salt and the breeze were his 
inheritance. He must have been greatly impressed 
as the ship sailed up the stately river, its shores 
heavily wooded and all the wonder of its rolling 
might stretched out in front of him. He came in 
time to Quebec, and no doubt as his eyes rested 
on those defences which had withstood siege after 
siege, his thoughts often turned to Wolfe and 
Montcalm and how, within this area on which he 
now gazed, they had made history. He was by 
now a man of grave and serious character and, as 
many another in lowlier state has done since, he 
may have asked himself what this vast unknown 
country held for him. It was to hold much, and 
he for it. 



CANADA: MUTINY IN THE 49TH 23 

We may try and think, for a moment, what the 
Canada of those early years looked like to this 
new-comer from the Mother country. There 
were not more than three hundred thousand people 
in this country of ours whose people now number 
over eight million. More than half were in 
Lower Canada. Brock was a military man and he 
early noticed how badly protected were the sup- 
posedly fortified posts. York, the capital of Upper 
Canada, had no defences. Montreal, the greatest 
city then as now, had little to repel attack. 
Kingston had fairly good fortifications, and 
Quebec was in a position stubbornly to resist an 
enemy. These things Brock came soon to see. 

Perhaps even more portentous to Brock was 
the state of mind of the average soldier in Canada. 
These men had come from Britain where the 
garrison life was pleasant and full of incident and 
where the cities offered excitement and amuse- 
ment. Canada was a great contrast. It was 
sparsely populated. There were no cities, as 
these British soldiers understood the term, and the 
sameness of the life aroused unrest and discontent. 
The United States offered an easy refuge for de- 
serters. There was to be had across the border 
the daily eventfulness and excitement which 
soldiers wanted. Desertions were frequent, and 



24 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

becoming more so, and Brock saw the danger for 
his men of the 49th. He did all he could to make 
their lot, under not very accommodating circum- 
stances, a happy one, but the spirit of the regiment 
was not the cheerful one it had been a year or so 
before. 

Brock had not been long in Canada before 
trouble began in the regiment. He had an idea 
that one of his men, Carr by name, was waiting 
his chance to desert. He questioned him closely, 
but the man was sullen. '*Tell me the truth like 
a man," said Brock. "You know I have always 
treated you kindly." The man broke down at the 
words and tone of his commander and confessed 
that he and others were planning to desert to the 
United States. Here we see that Brock was a 
man who knew human nature. He decided to 
cure by kindness, and he ordered Carr to tell his 
companions of what had happened. "Tell them 
that, notwithstanding what you have told me, I 
shall still treat you all kindly," he said. "Let 
them desert me if they please." Wise Isaac 
Brock! He knew the value of placing a man on 
his honor. 

After a short stay at Quebec, Brock and his men 
began their journey to York, the small but im- 
portant town that was later to become the great 



CANADA: MUTINY IN THE 49TH 25 

city of Toronto. The 49th journeyed by water, 
for there were no trains. A schooner took the men 
up to Montreal, where, after resting, they took 
boats up the St. Lawrence. Picture what it meant 
to brave the wildness and storm of our great 
river, to these voyagers a waterway quite unknown, 
in small and open boats. They had a new exper- 
ience in portaging their boats where the rapids 
were too strong for them. They plied their oars 
through the exquisite loveliness of the Thousand 
Islands, and Brock, remembering the fairyland 
of Guernsey, must have marvelled at this country 
which, in one place, had a thousand islands, some 
of them almost as big as Sark. Eventually the 
49th arrived at Kingston, the second stage. They 
made the rest of the journey over Lake Ontario in 
another swiftly sailing schooner. 

By the time the whole trip was completed 
Brock had been afforded much food for thought. 
He saw a country whose resources were barely 
touched. Where we now have thriving communi- 
ties, he saw settlements where the people might 
be counted by handfuls. In the long journey up 
the St. Lawrence the abundance of fish and game 
and the vast sources of wealth contained in the 
land alone must have amazed him. He came from 
a country across which the stage coach could travel 



26 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

in two or three days. But his journey across but 
a section of Canada took him weeks. In England 
the lakes were not a twentieth of the size of the 
one upon which York stood. The meadows and 
lanes of England were a far cry from the densely 
timbered stretches of Canada. The contrast 
between his country and ours is sharp enough to- 
day. It must have been infinitely more so when 
Brock made his first Canadian journey. 

It was not long after the pardoning of Carr that 
Brock had again to face a similar trouble. Part 
of his men had gone on to Fort George, while the 
others remained with him at York. Brock's kind 
treatment of Carr had had a salutary effect upon 
most of the regiment, but there were still a few 
malcontents. The next summer six of these, at 
the instigation of a corporal in another regiment 
stationed near, deserted, and in a military batteau 
— a big flat-bottomed boat, forty feet in length — 
which they had stolen, started for Niagara. Brock, 
the man of action, thought quickly. He took his 
servant, Dobson, and manning two boats, started 
in pursuit. It was midnight and Lake Ontario 
was to Brock an unknown quantity, but the boy 
who had played with the English Channel in all 
its moods was unafraid. After a hard row the 
pursuers reached Fort George in the morning, and 



CANADA: MUTINY IN THE 49TH 27 

search parties were organized. The deserters were 
secured and made prisoners at Fort George. 
Brock was as stern this time as he had been kind 
before, and his prompt action and personal pursuit 
put an end to desertions when he himself was 
commanding the regiment. It is said that the 
commander-in-chief, Lieutenant-General Hunter, 
who was then at York, was very much annoyed 
with Brock for risking his life by going in person 
to seek the deserters and read him a severe lecture 
on his conduct. 

Brock spent a good deal of time familiarizing 
himself with the Canadas, or Lower Canada and 
Upper Canada as they then were. He made 
many journeys to Montreal and Kingston by stage 
and by boat. From Quebec to Montreal was sixty 
leagues, and horses must be changed twenty-four 
times on the journey which took three days. 
Brock did a good deal of sailing too, for he had to 
get from York to Kingston and Montreal. Canoe 
and horse-ferry were often employed. The former 
was certainly new to Brock, and even more novel 
were the Indians who often manned it. Packman and 
voyageur excited Brock's eager interest, and from 
them he learned much that was to be valuable in 
years to come. He got to know the French- 
Canadian intimately too; saw him in his native 



28 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

habitat and spent time in studying him as he did 
the folk of Ontario. Nothing escaped his quick 
eye and quicker mentaUty. He beHeved in 
acquainting himself with the people with whom he 
had to deal, and his detailed knowledge of them 
placed him in a position accurately to estimate the 
help they could give him if ever Canada should be 
attacked. He could not be unmindful of the way 
in which thousands of American settlers were 
coming into his adopted country. The people 
across the border recognized the wonderful re- 
sources of Canada, and as land was cheap they 
flocked over to possess it. Even in these early 
days Brock must have seen signs of the very real 
menace which ultimately was to come from the 
United States. 

Meanwhile there was a serious disturbance at 
Fort George. Lieutenant-Colonel SheafTe was com- 
manding that part of the 49th which was stationed 
there, and we have seen that he was too harsh a 
disciplinarian ever to command a contented as well 
as an efficient body of men. For the slightest 
offence he punished his men very heavily. These 
were the days of heavy punishment alike in civilian 
and military misdemeanours. Where the soldier 
to-day would merit a rebuke, in Brock's day he was 
supposed to deserve and got a flogging. Sentences 



CANADA: MUTINY IN THE 49TH 29 

like 999 lashes from the "Cat," which was often 
steeped in brine to heighten the pain, were 
frequently carried out, and that for such small 
sins as quitting barracks without permission or 
being deficient in a detail of parade dress. The 
cells, too, were constantly occupied. Lieutenant - 
Colonel Sheaffe seems to have delighted in inflict- 
ing these punishments. His methods were a 
direct contrast to those of his senior. Brock. 
Small wonder, then, that his men were resentful, 
and finally so hot in their anger that their plans 
included wholesale mutiny, the murder of Sheaffe, 
and the imprisonment of the rest of the officers. 
The ringleader was a certain Sergeant Clarke. 

When Clark had his plans all ready an accidental 
word was dropped by a soldier in the 49th. A 
hurried meeting of the officers discussed the 
situation, and word was quickly sent to Brock, 
it is said without the knowledge of Sheaffe. The 
soldier who bore the message had a bad reputation 
in the regiment, and Brock at once jumped to the 
conclusion that the man himself was implicated in 
the plot. Under stern questioning and threats of 
severe punishment the soldier broke down and 
told the whole story, together with the names of 
the ringleaders. Accompanied by Sergeant- Major 
FitzGibbon, Brock set sail that very hour and 



30 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

landed at Fort George long before he was expected 
by the waiting ojfficers. The guard at the east 
gate of the fort was headed by Sergeant Clarke 
himself, and Brock ordered him to lay down his 
pike and take off sword and sash. When this was 
done, O'Brien, next in command, was ordered to 
handcuff the sergeant, and a third soldier, in turn, 
to manacle O'Brien. Almost before the officers 
who had asked his assistance knew that he had 
arrived, Brock had the twelve leaders of the plot 
in irons, and, they, with the seven deserters 
already mentioned, were sent to York under 
guard. 

We have read the story of Carr's intended 
mutiny, and we have seen that Brock could be 
kind and indeed cure by kindness. He knew when 
to punish and when to stay his hand. In the case 
of Clarke he saw that an example must be made, 
so that his authority over his men might be seen 
by them to be a thing not lightly to be set aside. 
This time he showed no mercy. 

The affair was now one for the commander-in- 
chief of the forces, Lieutenant-General Hunter. 
The men were sent to Quebec, and there tried. 
Four of the conspirators and three of the deserters 
were sentenced to death, and on March 2nd, 1804, 
the sentence was carried out, greatly to Brock's 



CANADA: MUTINY IN THE 49TH 31 

grief. He was big-hearted and clear-headed enough 
to know that Lieutenant-Colonel Sheaffe had been 
to a large extent responsible in arousing the evil 
passions which had resulted in the conspiracy, 
and while he recognized that the punishment was 
just he could not help but think that the delin- 
quents were more foolish than criminal. When at 
York, he got news of the execution, he addressed 
a full parade of his men. He thought of the 
fate of the men who had been with him in Holland, 
and he was grave and bitterly sorry when he said : 
"Since I have had the honor to wear the British 
uniform, I have never felt grief like this. It pains 
me to the heart to think that any members of my 
regiment should have engaged in a conspiracy 
which has led to their being shot like so many 
dogs." 



CHAPTER IV 
Rumors of War 

Brock, in 1805, was made full colonel. After 
the incident of the mutiny he had taken over the 
active command at Fort George as well as at 
York, and at the former, as at the latter, a new 
and kindlier order of discipline was worked out. 
In this, Lieutenant-Colonel Sheaffe seems to have 
helped. No doubt he was influenced by reflecting 
on the trouble he had helped to cause. Later on, 
in reporting the excellent discipline of the 49th, 
Brock gave a good deal of the credit to Sheaffe. 
Desertions were in bad odor, for the com.manding 
officer gave his men no reason for leaving him. 

In October Brock went to England on leave. 
While he was glad to see his old friends again, he 
made business his first consideration and discussed 
with the British commander-in-chief, the Duke of 
York, the military situation in the Canadas. He 
proposed the establishment of veteran battalions. 
He instanced the attractiveness of desertion to 
the soldier quartered near the United States 

32 



RUMORS OF WAR 33 

border and pointed out that the immigration from 
the United States to Canada of undesirable settlers 
— undesirable since they owed no allegiance to the 
British flag — might possibly counterbalance the 
devotion of the United Empire Loyalists. He 
suggested that these veterans should serve a cer- 
tain time and that they should then be given an 
opportunity to settle on the land. The Duke 
warmly thanked Brock, and later on the plan was 
adopted. 

Brock turned his steps Guernsey-wards, but 
after a few days there news of real trouble with the 
United States made it imperative that he should 
return to his command. Shortening his leave, he 
set sail on June 26th, 1806, and never returned to 
England. 

When he arrived in Quebec he found himself the 
senior officer of military rank in the Canadas and, 
as such, at once assumed the command of all the 
forces. 

The war cloud was gathering. Although Nel- 
son's victory at Trafalgar had finally shattered 
Napoleon's dream of invading England, he still 
hoped to cripple her by destroying her commerce 
and cutting off her food supply. Rapidly he sub- 
jugated Austria and Prussia, and when these two 
countries were at his feet, from the capital oi 



34 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

Prussia he issued the famous Berlin Decree. This 
decree forbade France or any of her aiUes to trade 
with Britain and declared that any ship engaged in 
such trade might be lawfully seized as a prize of 
war. Britain did not meekly submit, but by 
various orders in council forbade the ships of 
any nation to trade with France or any of her 
allies. Both the Berlin Decree and the orders 
in council were very high handed proceedings 
and bore with special severity on the neutral 
nations. 

At this time the relations between the United 
States and Great Britain were very strained. In 
order to maintain her navy at its full strength, 
Britain had revived her ancient ''right of search." 
She claimed and exercised the right to search the 
ships of neutral nations to find if they were carrying 
British subjects who were deserters from the 
British navy. The United States protested 
strongly against this action of Great Britain, 
holding that once a British seaman had crossed 
the decks of an American ship he was an American, 
and, moreover, she declined to acknowledge any 
right of Great Britain to hold up and to search 
her ships on the chance of finding deserters. And 
now came the British orders in council as a further 
source of irritation. 



RUMORS OF WAR 35 

It is true that the commerce of the United 
States with foreign nations had practically ceased 
as a result of the actions of the warring powers in 
Europe, but for this the Berlin Decrees were as 
much to blame as the orders in council. In fact 
at this time the United States suffered innumerable 
humiliations at the hands of the French. But in 
spite of this the whole anger of the United States 
seemed to be directed against Great Britain. 
The bitterness produced by the Revolutionary 
War had not yet died down, and there was a strong 
party in the country who made it its business to 
increase the flame of hatred. This party looked 
with covetous eyes on Canada, and desired to 
incorporate it into the United States. Without 
question that was the underlying reason for the 
War of 1812-14. 

President Jefferson was a bitter enemy of 
Great Britain. While Brock was still in England, 
the president addressed Congress and said that 
" the impressment of American seamen by British 
cruisers, not at all checked by the remonstrances 
of the American Government, was a growing 

source of irritation and complaint She 

[Britain] plainly showed a disposition to narrow 
the limits of the commerce of neutrals by denying 
to them the right of carrying on a trade with 



36 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

belligerents which she did not interdict with her 
own subjects." Britain's view was that as she was 
trying to beat the man who was doing his best to 
conquer Europe, the United States should see that 
if extreme measures were necessary they must be 
borne with, even though they hurt for the 
moment. 

At the end of 1805 President Jefferson went 
further. He came out flatly and said that "the 
foreign relations of the United States had been 
materially changed since the preceding session." 
He charged Britan with piracy and infesting the 
American coast with private armied vessels, "which 
had perpetrated acts beyond their commission." 
And he said: "It is due to ourselves to provide 
effective opposition to a doctrine which is as 
infamous as it is unwarranted." 

Brock recognized the veiled threat in the words 
"effective opposition" and was convinced that 
Jefferson and that section of the United States 
for which he stood wanted war. Hence his quick 
return to Canada. He knew that Jefferson's 
first act in the event of war would be to try and get 
control of the lakes and rivers and to capture the 
fortified posts. Brock realized better than any 
man how weak was the resistance that could be 
offered unless the defences of the Canadas were 



RUMORS OF WAR 37 

immediately strengthened. As soon as he had 
taken up his new command he set about preparing 
the defence Canada was to offer. In this he was 
hampered rather than helped by the civil authori- 
ties. The governor-general of the Canadas at this 
time, Sir Robert Prescott, does not seem to have 
taken his position very seriously, and Thomas 
Dunn, president of the Executive Council, the 
man with whom Brock had directly to deal, appears 
to have been of one mind with Prescott. 

Early in 1807, Brock was greatly heartened by 
proposals from Colonel John Macdonell, who was 
lieutenant of the county of Glengarry and had 
been for four years commanding officer of the 
Glengarry Militia Regiment, for forming a com- 
pany of Highland Fencibles. Brock forwarded 
the scheme to the war office in London and backed 
it up. It would be, he said, "essentially useful in 
checking any seditious disposition which the 
wavering sentiments of a large population in the 
Montreal district might at any time manifest." 
This is an indication that Brock was by no means 
sure which w^ay the habitant would go in case of 
war. 

Brock thought he had ground for his suspicions, 
and he decided to get to know the folk of Lower 
Canada better. When Sir James Craig arrived ift 



38 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

Quebec, Brock's tenure of the office of commander- 
in-chief ended. Sir James became that and 
governor-general in one, but he appointed Brock 
as acting brigadier-general. This was confirmed 
in London. Brock was sent to Montreal in com- 
mand of the troops there and quartered in the old 
Chateau de Ramesay at Montreal, then a rich 
centre and the only city of pleasure and gaiety in 
Canada. 

In Montreal he managed to see a good deal of 
the fur lords and great business men of the place. 
He entered into their social life, and the French- 
Canadian then, as now, knew how to to be hospit- 
able. This gave the brigadier a chance to judge 
somewhat as to where French-Canada stood, and he 
had even better facilities when, in September, 1808, 
he was superseded in the Montreal command by 
General Drummond and was moved back to Quebec. 
Here he had many friends and he entertained and 
was entertained. All sorts of regattas and land 
sports were held by the officers of the garrison 
and, here, as in Montreal, he found a good deal of 
pleasure in social affairs. He writes of "a vast 
assemblage of all descriptions" — an occasion when 
he entertained Lieutenant-Governor Gore, of 
Upper Canada, and his wife at a dinner and ball. 
During these days he unquestionably became 



RUMORS OF WAR 39 

reassured as to the loyalty of the people of Lower 
Canada. 

He had perhaps been unduly suspicious. The 
people of Lower Canada, of course, were almost 
entirely of French descent. They spoke French, 
and Brock feared that in a Franco-America alliance, 
French Canada would remember its descent and 
support Napoleon. There were signs of leaning 
France-wards. The French Canadians publicly 
rejoiced when news of a fresh victory for Napoleon 
reached them, and Brock at first certainly deemed 
them disloyal. He so expressed himself in his 
letters again and again. He could not understand 
why they should be, for they were much freer and 
happier under British rule than they had been 
when Bigot and others, during the French regime, 
had governed them. Yet even in the early days, 
Brock was in two minds about them for he wrote: 
" It may appear surprising that men petted as they 
have been and indulged in everything they could 
desire should wish for a change, but so it is, and I 
am inclined to think that were Englishmen placed 
in the same situation they would show even more 
impatience to escape from French rule." 

But, on the whole. Brock need not have feared. 
The French Canadians did not want another rule= 
Their priests and men in high authority were 



40 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

loyal to Britain, and they represented the mass of 
opinion more than the Napoleonic or American 
agent who was to be found here and there in 
Lower Canada. 

In these days, Brock was not particularly happy. 
He was worried by the possibility of war, and 
taking it on the whole he was not in love with 
Canada. Perhaps he was homesick. He heard of 
former comrades winning their spurs on the battle- 
fields of Europe, and he compared their lot to his 
in a ** remote, inactive corner" as he dubbed 
Canada in a letter to England. And we know 
that he had enlisted his brother Savery's efforts 
to have him transferred. It was natural. He 
was a man of action and had as keen a desire as 
any soldier for risk and fame. 

Brock's first measure in strengthening the 
defences of Canada was to make Quebec attack- 
proof. Sir Guy Carleton, in 1775-1776, had 
defended Quebec against American forces under 
General Montgomery. There might soon be 
another attack, and Brock wanted to have Quebec 
in such shape that it could repel invasion. He 
appealed to the council for a thousand men and 
sufficient carts for six months to strengthen the 
walls. But the civil government of Lower Canada 
thought his move was a political one and gave 



RUMORS OF WAR 41 

little or no aid. They told him he must do the 
work himself, and he did. In a letter to the 
president of the council he scouts the suspicions of 
the civil government and states that his "sole 
object was to state the assistance required by the 
military to remedy a glaring defect in the forti- 
fications of Quebec, should his Honor conceive that 
preparatory measures were necessary to be adopted 
in consequence of the aggres- 
sive proceedings in the proclamation of the 
American Government." 

He went ahead and erected a battery mounting 
eight thirty-six pounders in the centre of the citadel 
at Quebec, commanding the heights opposite. This 
was first christened "Brock's Battery," but when 
the newly-arrived governor-general. Sir James 
Craig, saw it, he thought, says Brock, "that any- 
thing so pre-eminent should be distinguished by the 
most exalted name." It was therefore called "The 
King's Battery," and, wrote Brock, "this is the great- 
est compliment that he could pay to my judgment." 

Altogether, at great expense, the fortifications of 
Quebec were greatly improved. Proper drill 
grounds were made and a good hospital created. 
Quartermasters at Amherstburg and Kingston were 
appointed to take charge of new fleets of schooners 
and militarv batteaux which he had constructed. 



42 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

He was not a moment too soon with his work. 
The international situation was rapidly complicat- 
ing. Mention has been made of Britain's stopping 
and searching American vessels for British deser- 
ters. This continued and became more general, 
and there does not seem to be room for doubt that, 
in some cases, British commanders were very 
autocratic. They gave the United States legiti- 
mate cause for complaint by sometimes carrying 
off seamen whom they pretended were British, 
but who were really American citizens. The case 
of the Chesapeake brought matters to a head. It 
was suspected by Admiral Berkeley, stationed at 
Halifax, that some sailors, whose offence was 
particularly flagrant, had deserted from the British 
sloop Halifax and had found refuge on the Chesa- 
peake. The Admiral ordered Captain Humphreys 
of the frigate Leopard to insist on the return of 
these deserters. Commodore Barron commanding 
the Chesapeake refused point blank to surrender the 
men in question, and Humphreys fired on the 
United States frigate, which did not return the 
fire. She was seized, and the deserters secured by 
the British commander. Naturally the United 
States threatened war. This was answered by an 
honorable apology from Britain, however, and the 
war cloud passed for the moment. But Brock 



RUMORS OF WAR 43 

thought it could not long be delayed. The 
heart of the trouble was still there, and sooner or 
later the irritation which each nation felt at the 
other was bound to find outlet in actual conflict. 
Hence Brock's rush to make preparations for 
adequate defence. 



CHAPTER V 

Moved to Upper Canada 

In 1809 Brock learned that Brigadier-General 
Baron de Rottenberg was coming to Canada. He 
knew that as the Baron was his senior in the service 
he would probably be the appointee of Sir James 
Craig to the commanding position. About this 
time he wrote to his sister-in-law, Mrs. W. Brock: 
"The spirit of insubordination lately manifested 
by the French Canadian population of this colony 
naturally called for precautionary measures, and our 
worthy chief (Sir James) is induced, in consequence, 
to retain in this country those on whom he can best 
confide. I am highly flattered in being reckoned 
among the number, whatever inward disappoint- 
ment I may feel. Some unpleasant events have 
likewise happened in the upper country which 
have occasioned my receiving intimation to pro- 
ceed thither, whether as a permanent station, or 
merely as a temporary visit. Sir James Craig has 
not determined." Evidently Brock still had at 
the back of his mind an idea that the French in 

44 



MOVED TO T'PPER CANADA 45 

Lower Canada would welcome again the suzerainty 
(^f France. 

In July Sir James, when Rottenberg came, sent 
Brock to Upper Canada and, in September, with 
his goods and chattels, chiefly consisting of books 
which, we have seen, he learned to love as a boy, 
he moved to Fort George, Niagara. He had not 
been there a month before he again felt restless and 
anxious to get back to some post where he might 
see service, for he expressed a desire to serve with 
the British forces who were then in Spain and 
Portugal. The adjutant-general, Colonel Baynes, 
however, replied that Sir James Craig informed 
him that he did not think the state of the pubhc 
service would warrant his relieving Brock from 
duty in Upper Canada. 

Brock busied himself with the duties attendant 
on his position and seems to have spent a good 
deal of time, as he had done in Quebec, in trying 
to gain the confidence of the people. He early 
saw that the upper province was by no means 
restful and his suspicions of a few years ago that 
the American immigrants were unsettling the 
province were thus confirmed. 

In June, 1811, he was promoted to the rank of 
major-general. Sir James Craig, with the excuse 
of ill-health, resigned the position of governor- 



46 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

general and left for England. Sir James was ill, 
but he had incensed Lower Canada so much that 
his departure at this time was the best service he 
could render the country. Before he went he 
begged Brock to remain in Canada. "Your pre- 
sence is needed here," he said. And a little later, 
as an earnest of what the governor-general thought 
of him. Brock received a letter from Colonel 
Baynes in which he said: "He (Sir James) requests 
that you will do him the favor to accept as a 
legacy and mark of his very sincere regard his 
favorite horse Alfred, and he is induced to send 
him to you, not only from wishing to secure for his 
old favorite a kind and careful master, but from 
the conviction that the whole continent of America 
could not furnish you with so safe and excellent an 
horse?" 

Three months later Sir George Prevost, who 
was the new governor-general of and commander 
of the forces in Canada, appointed Brock president 
and administrator of the government of Upper 
Canada, in place of the lieutenant-governor who 
had obtained leave to visit England. Upper 
Canada needed him, and Sir George Prevost made 
a wise move m this appointment. Bad feeling 
between Bri'^ain generally and the United States 
had developed in connection with the Canadas. 



MOVED TO UPPER CANADA 47 

Before Craig left for England, amongst the 
matters he had discussed with Brock was that of 
possible trouble between the Indians in Canada 
and United States border citizens. Sir James 
Craig's policy is outlined in a letter to Brock: 
"Upon every principle of policy our interests 
should lead us to use all our endeavors to prevent 
a rupture between the Indians and the subjects 
of the United States." Brock appreciated the 
wisdom of this and followed it out. He instructed 
those under him, who had charge of territory 
inhabited by these Indians, to keep a tight rein on 
their maraudings and pillagings and did all he 
could to discourage border crime. But, doubtless 
to his amazement, in the summer of 1811, the 
government of the United States accused British 
officers in Canada of actually aiding and abetting 
the Indians in their lawlessness. Brock, naturally, 
had a hard enough row to hoe, for though he must 
deprecate the cruelty of the Indians, he was 
anxious to preserve friendliness with them, since, 
should war come, he desired them as allies, or at 
any rate, did not want them as enemies. His 
position was difficult. 

This was but one of the perplexities which the 
new administrator of Upper Canada had to face. 
Just about this time, domestic trouble caused him 



48 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

great anxiety. He had two brothers in London, 
William and Irving. They were partners in a 
private bank. Serious financial troubles had been 
caused by the wars in Europe, and in New York 
failures had been many. Brock, in a letter to his 
brother Irving, reporting these, prophesied a finan- 
cial crash in London. He hoped they had "with- 
held their confidence in public stock." Unfortu- 
nately, they had not, and owing to the depredations 
of Napoleon's privateers upon the boats belonging 
to his banker-brothers, the latter had had to close 
their house. When the books were examined 
there was an item of £3,000, which appeared as a 
debt owed to the bank by Isaac Brock. This was 
really a personal loan by William Brock to Isaac, 
but as the transaction appeared in the books. 
Brock deemed himself liable. That was a small 
matter, however, compared to the trouble which 
the bank's affairs had made between William and 
Irving. Irving blamed his brother William for 
the smash. 

Brock wrote from Canada to Irving imploring 
his kindliness to William. "Hang the world! It 
is not worth a thought," he wrote. "Be generous, 
and find silent comfort in being so." Brock kjiew 
how his brother William, who had been so kind to 
him, was suffering. "Why refuse him consola- 



MOVED TO UPPER CANADA 49 

tion"? his letter to Irving read. "Could tears 

restore him he would soon be happy My 

thoughts are fixed on you all and the last thing 
that gives me any concern is the call which Savery 
prepared me to expect from the creditors." 

Great .earted Brock! It meant much to him 
just now to find £3,000, but the suffering of William 
and the breach between the brothers meant far 
more. 

He felt that, with an effort he could wipe out 
his own debt. To Irving he offered his salary as 
acting lieutenant-governor, which was about $5,000 
a year. He might, had he been any but the just 
and honorable man he was, have paid his debt by 
money made unfairly out of his office; but, unlike 
many public men in Canada before and since, he 
refused to be a profiteer. Speaking of his oppor- 
tunities for finding the money, he wrote to Irving 
Brock: "Be satisfied that even your stern honesty 
shall have no just cause to censure one of my 
actions." 

Brock was a great soldier, but he was also a 
great public servant, and greater in nothing than 
his rugged and immaculate honesty. Canada to- 
day would be better for more Isaac Brocks! 

We are coming to an important time alike for 
Brock and Canada and some description of his 



50 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

appearance will be interesting. A lionlike head 
crowned a splendidly tall body. It was said that 
he did not find it easy to get a hat in Canada to fit 
him. He was fair-headed and of a ruddy com- 
plexion. The gray-blue eyes, added to his fairness, 
made him more Anglo-Saxon than Norman in 
type. He was blufBy handsome, and his genial 
smile was the index to a pervading and unceasing 
kindliness. He was indeed a gentle man, and so a 
gentleman. Somebody might aptly have said of 
him, in Martin Tupper's words: "Yet is that giant 
very gentleness." 

We have touched, before this, on the abundant 
largeness of his heart. He had nothing petty 
about him. He was glad to praise others when 
they deserved it, and he was too big a man to 
steal the credit that belonged to subordinates. 
He was a man of example as well as of precept, and 
he knew the greater worth of the example. He 
was essentially humane and therefore human. 
And he had the saving grace of a sense of humor. 

He was a man of real lovingkindness — with all 
that that grand old word means — towards his 
fellows. Once a certain Hogan deserted from the 
49th. Describing this he said: ''A fair damsel 
persuaded him to this act of madness, for the poor 
fellow cannot possibly gain his bread by labor, as 



MOVED TO UPPER CANADA 51 

he has half killed himself by excessive drinking, 
and we know he cannot live upon love alone." 
Brock was not angry; he was compassionate. He 
was always sensible of difficulties and never 
underestimated them. But he never appraised them 
too highly. FitzGibbon, afterwards the hero of 
Beaver Dam, tells an experience which shows this. 
At the time FitzGibbon was a sergeant-major. 
Brock ordered him to do something which was 
admittedly difficult. FitzGibbon said he was 
sorry, but it was impossible. "By the Lord 
Harry," cried Brock, "don't tell me it is impos- 
sible. Nothing should be impossible to a soldier. 
The word 'impossible' should not be in a soldier's 
dictionary." FitzGibbon never forgot that and 
often quoted it to the men under him, when they 
were downhearted and inclined to deem things 
impossible of attainment. 

Brock's outstanding characteristic was his white 
humanity. His men loved him because, though 
far removed from them in position and station, he 
was one with them and one for them. 

His headquarters were now at York. He was 
sure and surer of war with the United States, and 
even in December of 1811, he told Sir George 
Prevost that, in case of war, he thought Canada 
should seize Mackinaw and Detroit immediately. 



52 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

This, he submitted, would impress the Indians, 
and also hold up an invading army. Acting on 
his advice. Sir George Prevost ordered two armed 
schooners, the Prince Regent and the Lady Prevost 
to be equipped, one for each of the two lakes, 
Ontario and Erie. 

Early next year, Brock declined a command in 
Spain which the home government offered him, 
requesting to stay in Canada. He had a great deal 
on hand. He had a frontier of 1,300 miles to defend, 
and that needed many men and much material. He 
was greatly concerned about securing these. 

In his first address to the House of Assembly at 
York in February, 1812, Brock gave striking evi- 
dence that he was thoroughly master of the 
political situation in Upper Canada. He had in 
his ears the shrill bombast of the political leaders 
in the United States and knew just how to estimate 
it. A president had recently declared that the 
capture of Canada was a ''mere matter of march- 
ing." A Massachusetts officer offered to "capture 
Canada by contract, raise a company, and take it 
in six weeks." Henry Clay "verily believed that 
the militia of Kentucky alone were competent to 
place Canada at the feet of Americans." Said 
Brock: "We wish and hope for peace, but it is 
nevertheless our duty to be prepared for war." 



MOVED TO UPPER CANADA 53 

He received the support of the Assembly, and, 
that spring, was more soldier than governor. He 
got to know the Six Nations Indians on the Grand 
River. He raised companies of militia. He set 
about the additional defence of the Niagara fron- 
tier and saw that through. He had only 1,450 
British regulars, — and just how far it was safe 
to arm Canada's dozen thousand men who were 
said to be ready to bear arms, he did not know. 

Meanwhile war was almost upon him. May saw 
large detachments of United States soldiers sent 
to Detroit and Niagara. At the latter border 
they were drilling busily, and this and kindred 
signs of war seems to have got on Brock's nerves. 
Since war was to come, he was impatient at delay. 
He wanted to take the two posts he had mentioned 
in the first sharp attack, and thus hearten his 
people. He knew the value to be placed upon 
morale. On June 18th, 1812, war against Great 
Britain was declared by President Madison, with 
the consent of the Congress of the United States of 
America. The president placed an embargo on 
shipping. He raised a public subscription fund 
and issued a call for a hundred thousand volunteers. 



CHAPTER VI 
A Foolish Boast 

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." 
The United States was not a union — for war. 
While Henry Clay and ex-President Jefferson were 
breathing out their threatenings and slaughter, 
New England refused to concur in the country's 
wisdom in declaring war, and Boston flew its flags 
at half-mast. And if the United States was not 
whole in spirit, she was certainly not in material 
things. Her soldiers though many, were raw. 
Her treasury was empty. 

Canada, however, was even worse off. Prevost 
was of the opinion that Quebec was about the only 
place that could be held against the enemy. Cer- 
tainly 950 regulars and marines and 550 militia had 
a gigantic task in the defending of seven forts, 
from Kingston to Fort St. Joseph, in covering a 
straggling and wretchedly protected frontier, and 
in patrolling the huge sheets of water which are our 
lake district. Even Brock, outwardly optimistic, 
fully expected that he would be able to do little at 

54 



A FOOLISH BOAST 55 

first. He had to deal with a governor-general who 
apparently had no perception and no sense of 
proportion. Brock at York had received word 
of war from the House of Astor in New York, 
earlier even than some of the United States com- 
manders were apprised of it. He was a man of 
action, and he was for action, and that at once. 
He believed that often the best defence is attack, 
and he chafed under the restraint, anything but 
wise under these circumstances, of Sir George 
Prevost, who daily adjured him not to strike the 
first blow. This continued for three weeks after 
war was declared. Meanwhile General Hull was 
marching through Ohio and Michigan to Detroit, 
from thence to attack Canada! 

Brock saw what Prevost did not see, the signi- 
ficance to the Indians of an initial victory. If 
Canada won the first battle, the border Indians 
would rally to the Union Jack. They were a con- 
siderable factor and had been canvassed by 
American agents for many months in the endeavor 
to persuade them, in the event of war, to join 
with the United States. But Prevost fiddled while 
Brock burned with indignation! 

Almost his first act, when war was declared, was 
to issue instructions to Captain Charles Roberts, 
who commanded at Fort St. Joseph, to take 



56 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

Mackinaw Island. In Robert's command were 
150 French-Canadians. Though this was contrary 
to the orders of Sir George Prevost, Roberts did 
as Brock told him. The fall of Mackinaw meant 
the capture of much ammunition, many guns, 
and a rich stock of furs. It also meant a favorable 
impression on the Indians, which Brock knew to 
be of first importance, and an impression which at 
once made itself felt. 

By July 5th, General Hull with his men had 
reached Detroit. Seven days later he crossed the 
river to Sandwich, losing on his way prisoners, bag- 
gage, stores, and private war-papers to Lieutenant 
Roulette of the British sloop Hunter. This 
capture was of the utmost importance, as it was 
the information gained from the seized papers that 
decided Brock to march directly against Hull. 
From Sandwich, the American general issued his 
famous proclamation, in which he promised 
"peace, Hberty, and security" to the people of the 
province he had Invaded, if they made no resistance, 
but "war, slavery, and destruction," if they were 
hostile! 

Some of the people at Sandwich had welcomed 
the United States troops with open arms, but 
Amherstburg, Hull's original goal, abandoned by 
him because of the presence of British ships and 



A FOOLISH BOAST 57 

the strength of Fort Maiden nearby, was not so 
openly treacherous. Desertions from the British 
troops were, however, becoming common, and 
indeed the effect of Hull's proclamation on a 
certain part of the population was sufficient to 
cause alarm. Brock at once countered by the 
issue of a proclamation in which he pointed out 
that Great Britain was ready and willing to 
defend her subjects, whether white or Indian, at 
all time and places and further urged the folly 
of trusting to the promises of Hull. This procla- 
mation, couched in plain but stirring language, 
had the desired effect in recalling the people to 
their senses! All this time Hull and his troops 
were spending their time plundering and pillaging 
the surrounding country. 

In the meantime Brock had called the Legisla- 
ture to meet in extra session at York on July 27th. 
In opening the House he said: "When invaded by 
an enemy whose avowed object is the entire 
conquest of the province, the voice of loyalty, as 
well as of interest, calls aloud to every person in 
the sphere in which he is placed, to defend his 
country. Our militia have heard the voice and 
have obeyed it. They have evinced by the 
promptitude and loyalty of their conduct that 
they are worthy of the King whom they serve, 



58 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

and of the constitution which they enjoy; and it 
affords me particular satisfaction, that, while I 
address you as legislators, I speak to men who, 
in the day of danger, will be ready to assist not 
only with their counsel, but with their arms." 
He concluded his address with the ringing words: 
"We are engaged in an awful and eventful conflict. 
By unanimity and despatch in our Councils, and 
by vigor in our operations, we may teach the 
enemy this lesson, that a country defended by 
jree men, enthusiastically devoted to the cause of 
their King and constitution, cannot be conquered." 

But all the members were not loyal. There was 
in the Assembly a strong minority who was more 
than friendly to the United States. This faction, 
indeed, succeeded in preventing the passage of 
certain measures which Brock regarded as essential 
to the safety of the country. In fact, so dangerous 
did the opposition become, and so much comfort 
did it give to the enemy, that nine days after the 
session opened Brock, after consultation with his 
Council, dissolved the Assembly. But before this the 
lo3^al members had rallied to Brock, had passed the 
bills which he wished, and issued a ringing appeal 
to the loyalty of the people of Upper Canada. 

Before calling the extra session of the Legislature 
Brock had made up his mind to lead his men in 



^ A FOOLISH BOAST 59 

person against the Invaders. The loyal volunteers 
gathered round him. Chief among these were the 
United Empire Loyalists and their descendants, 
men who had not forgotten the treatment they or 
their fathers had received from the nation that 
was now again threatening their lives and their 
liberty. But even with this loyal support Brock 
had his troubles. It meant sacrifice for the 
farmers to drop their scythes and enlist, for harvest 
time was at hand, and they could not afford to 
lose their crops. Many, having enrolled, begged 
for permission to return and harvest the wheat, 
which permission Brock felt he had unwillingly to 
give. His great fear was of desertions which 
would certainly multiply unless he could forestall 
complaints by action. He wrote impatiently, but 
justifiably so, to Prevost, pointing out that he had 
wretchedly poor supplies of ammunition and even 
clothing. 

On August 5th, his volunteer army reinforced by 
the handful of regulars set out for Detroit. They 
went by Burlington Bay and Lake Erie, and so 
passed the Mohawk settlement. This gave him 
an opportunity to ascertain the attitude of the 
Indians. What he found did not cheer him. The' 
work of the United States agents had had its effect. 
The Indians were distrustful and sulky. Sixty of 



60 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

them gave a sort of promise to follow him, but Brock 
now knew beyond peradventure, that unless he 
had the initial success, he would have to fight the 
Indians as well as the Americans. 

Long Point was reached on August 8th, and 
here Brock, with a force of three hundred, em- 
barked. After a stormy voyage lasting five days 
they reached Amherstburg. It was lucky that 
Brock was a seabred man as well as a soldier. That 
voyage would have disheartened many a brave 
man. 

News of Brock's expedition had reached General 
Hull who had turned tail and recrossed the river 
with his men. Captain Dixon, who entered 
Sandwich in pursuit of the departing Hull, took 
the opportunity of strengthening the defences of 
the town and placed five guns in position covering 
Fort Detroit. 

There now comes into the story of how Brock 
saved Canada, a romantic figure, Tecumseh. 
Tecumseh was a Shawanese chief and a brave man. 
When the choice had to be made as to whom he and 
his should serve, he decided that his loyalty should 
be to Britain. "I have more confidence" he said 
to his tribesmen, "in the word of a Briton than in 
the word of a Big Knife!" Tecumseh's decision 
was a very important factor in the War of 1812. 



A FOOLISH BOAS'] 61 

Having set his hand to the plough he lost no time. 
He and all the Indians had been greatly impressed 
with Brock's occupation of Sandwich and Hull's 
fear and retreat. This was as Brock had surmised. 
By a clever trap Tecumseh ambushed a force 
under an American officer, Major Van Home, 
which was bringing supplies from the Raisin River 
to Detroit. He had not yet met Brock. 

Arrived at Fort Maiden, Brock received from 
Colonel Proctor there a number of papers cap- 
tured by Tecumseh in his brief engagement w^ith 
Van Home. They turned out to be General 
Hull's further instructions from his government 
and Hull's replies. These latter revealed the fact 
that the braggart quality of Hull had gone. He 
was very much down in the mouth. Sickness was 
prevalent in his camp. His constant maraudings 
were his only source of food and supplies, it appear- 
ed, and as his communications had been cut off, 
starvation faced him and his men. 

Brock, like the great commander he was, saw 
that the real significance of the captured corres- 
pondence was its demonstration of the lowered 
morale of Hull's men even more than their dwindl- 
ing supplies. He decided to act. He knew that 
it would not be easy to conquer a force of 2,500, 
but he remembered Nelson's threat at Copenhagen 



62 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

and that it was successful. The old Greeks had 
a saying which might very well have been running 
through Brock's mind at this time, "They did it 
because they thought they could do it." He was 
not overwhelmingly confident, but he knew he 
could not afford to be unsure of himself. He sent 
his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel John Mac- 
donell, and Captain Glegg, under a flag of truce, 
to General Hull with this message: "The force 
at my disposal authorizes me to require of you the 
surrender of Fort Detroit. It is far from my 
inclination to join in a war of extermination, but 
you must be aware that the numerous body of 
Indians, who have attached themselves to my 
troops, will be beyond my control the moment the 
contest commences." 

Hull was caught between the devil of his own 
self-contempt and the deep sea of this supposed 
force of Indians. He longed to hand Brock his 
sword, but he dared not give in without some 
attempt at resistance. He had boasted so much 
that he was compelled to make some sort of 
showing. He said he was ready to meet the 
British forces. 

The rest of the day was occupied in planning the 
attack, while the guns at Sandwich were pouring 
forth a desultory fire to which Fort Detroit replied. 



A FOOLISH BOAST 63 

Brock wanted to lead his army across the river. 
Nearly all his staff opposed him, but he had two 
brave men who agreed with him. One was his 
quartermaster-general, Colonel Nichol, and the 
other was Tecumseh. 

Brock had confidence in Tecumseh and he in 
Brock. On the occasion of their meeting, Brock, 
though it was past midnight, was busy at his table 
with his plans and despatches. In the dimly 
lighted room these two warriors looked at each 
other. Brock saw an Indian brave. Tecumseh 
saw a brave Briton. He turned to his followers, 
and almost in the words of Brutus describing 
Antony long ago, he said: ''This is a man.'' 
Brock reciprocated this high regard. Of the In- 
dian warrior he wrote: "A more sagacious or a 
more gallant warrior does not, I believe, exist. 
He was the admiration of every one who conversed 
with him." 

Brock discussed his plans of attack with Tecum- 
seh and asked the chief if he could give him 
definite information. Tecumseh, who had an 
intimate knowledge of the district which Brock 
planned to make the scene of his first engage- 
ment, took a piece of birch bark and, laying it on 
the ground, made a military map, showing all the 
natural features of the district. Brock and Colonel 



64 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

Nichol examined the map, and the former advised 
with his staff no more. His decision was made 
and needed no further deliberating. He would cross 
the Detroit River in the morning, though Prevost 
and the War Office had said him ''Nay!" 



CHAPTER VII 

Detroit Taken 

August 16th, then, sees Major-General Isaac 
Brock and his men embarked for the American 
shore. Tecumseh had not waited for the main 
body, but with Colonel Elliott and six hundred 
Indians had crossed the night before, as an advance 
guard to hold the enemy should they attempt to 
hinder Brock. 

We can picture the crossing of this comparative 
handful of men — 382 British regulars, 362 Cana- 
dian militiamen, and the remainder of the Indians. 
They set out to the accompaniment of the booming 
of the guns from the Hunter and the Queen Char- 
lotte, which were in the river just above what is 
now the city of Windsor. Many of Brock's men 
were quite new to the idea of conflict, and doubtless 
the thoughts of men before battle then were much 
the same as they are now. But the sun rose high 
in the heavens, and the hearts of the men rose 
with it. The glint of the sun's rays caught the 
bayonets which moved to and fro as the 

65 



66 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

batteaux and canoes made swiftly across stream. 
Blue-shirts of sailors and red-coats of soldiers 
colored the scene, which took on a quaint and 
awesome quality when the Indians' gaudy feathers 
and brilliant paint began to be discernible as the 
expedition neared the opposite bank and finally 
landed at Springwells, three miles below the fort. 
The whoops and strange cries of the Indians did 
not tend to hearten the enemy. 

Brock surveyed the situation. Here was he, 
against his superior's orders, on enemy ground, 
taking the offensive. He had little better than 
half the men his opponent had, and, what is more, 
his men were for the most part green and untried, 
while General Hull's, though not actually exper- 
ienced, were far more highly trained. Above him, 
as he looked, rose not far away the heavy walls of 
a strong fort, with all that that implied of gunfire 
and destruction. But Brock knew that if in 
material he did not equal Hull, the spirit of his 
men was unbreakable, while the braggart who 
opposed him secretly feared the issue. 

His plan was to split Hull's army. He knew 
that Hull dare not leave the fortress unprotected 
and that that fact would lessen the number who 
would give him direct battle. He planned to lure 
Hull into the open, and he relied on his few regulars 



DETROIT TAKEN 67 

and the inveterate fighters he had in the Indians 
to hearten the raw recruits, if they needed any 
spur other than that of defending their famihes 
and homes. But here a factor was introduced 
which would not allow him time for strategy. 

He suddenly learned that about 350 men — this 
number was exaggerated to him — were away from 
Hull's main body, bringing supplies. Hull, aware 
of Brock's approach, had sent peremptory orders 
to this detachment to return immediately. They 
were only a short distance away, and Brock saw 
that he must strike at once. This man of action 
decided to assault the fort itself. Seldom has there 
been a more splendidly foolhardy plan. He drew 
up his 1,400 men, roughly, half Indian and half 
white, and prepared to attack the fort. 

It must have looked a hard obstacle to conquer. 
It has been described as being constructed in the 
form of a parallelogram. At each corner was a 
strong bastion and all round stretched a moat, 
twelve feet wide and eight feet deep. There were 
palisades of hardwood, ten feet in height, inclining 
from the base of the rampart at an angle of forty 
degrees, and sharpened at the top. The ramparts 
were twenty- two feet high, and breaches for cannon 
occurred at regular intervals. There was a port- 
cullis, well provided for small-arm firing, and a 



68 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

drawbridge. And perhaps the most important 
thing from the defenders' point of view was that 
the fort commanded quite open country, so that 
the attacking army would find it very difficult 
to remain undiscovered for long. The fortress, 
Brock told himself, was going to be hard to take, 
but it was worth a determined struggle, not only 
for the intrinsic gain but also for what a victory 
signified. The fort held a great deal of ammunition, 
as Vv'^ell as more than thirty guns. 

Brock personally led his army in the attack. 
Colonel Nichol, the gallant Scottish-Canadian 
merchant whom Brock had made quartermaster- 
general of militia, protested against this. He reined 
up by the side of the commander who was riding up 
and down in front of his army, heartening them for 
the attack, and said: "General, I cannot forbear 
entreating you not to expose yourself. If we lose 
you, we lose all." But Brock, who had always 
believed in the inspiration of personal example, 
turned to his officer and said: ** Master Nichol, I 
duly appreciate the advice you give, but I feel that 
in addition to their sense of loyalty and duty, many 
here follow me from personal regard, and I will never 
ask them to go where I do not lead them." 

Brock believed in co-operation, and while he 
advanced down the long, narrow road the battery 



DETROIT TAKEN 69 

at Sandwich, commanded by Captain Hall, and the 
guns on the deck of the Queen Charlotte poured 
heavy fire into the fort. This had its effect, for 
just at the time Brock's column was nearing its 
destination a shot from Captain Hall's guns found 
its billet in one of the rooms at the fort, wounding 
and killing several officers and men. Meanwhile, 
Lieutenant Bullock was leading the advance guard 
for Brock. He had three six pounders and two 
three pounders. It was a case of David and 
Goliath over again, for this sort of weapon was 
hardly fitted to the great task in front of Brock. 
He was leading his men down the country road, 
in the very face of a battery of two twenty-four 
pounders, two twelve-pounders, and two six- 
pounders. 

General Hull was feeling subdued enough by 
now. Brock had uniformed the militiamen he 
had with him in the old tunics of the 41st, and 
Hull therefore imagined that Brock had more 
regulars than he had at first supposed. And he 
was sure too of the presence of the Indians. 
He conjured up visions of innumerable scalpings. 
His last ounce of courage faded when Captain 
Hall's effective shots fell within the fort and he 
despatched messengers with a flag of truce to 
the Captain. Hall, however, returned word that 



70 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

Major-General Isaac Brock alone could accept 
surrender. 

Not far away the Indians were coming 
through the woods, shrieking their war-cries, 
terrifying all who heard. Already the York 
volunteers had had some desultory fighting, 
and they were now only a mile or so from 
the battery of heavy guns. But to the 
American soldiers manning them, as to the 
men in the fort, there came no order to fire. 
Presumably, Hull expected that the white flag 
he had despatched precluded any opposition. 
Brock, of course, knew nothing of the offer of 
surrender. 

The British advanced to within three-quarters of 
a mile of the fort and called a halt to reconnoitre. 
Brock was amazed to find that the American 
gunners had fled to the fort, and that, approaching 
him was one of Hull's staff officers bearing a flag 
of truce. An hour or two later Brock led his men 
into the fort! The way which had seemed so 
difficult had become miraculously easy. 

It was next day, Monday, August 17th, that 
Brock form.ally took possession of the fort, which 
implied the surrender of the whole of surrounding 
Michigan. There were many prisoners of war, but 
even more to be desired, 40 cannon, 2,500 muskets, 



DETROIT TAKEN 71 

60 barrels of gunpowder, 200 tons of cannon ball, 
and large stores of other ammunition fell into the 
hands of the British. Looking around, the men 
found horses and sheep and cattle in abund- 
ance. These had been stolen from Canadian 
farmers by the marauding Americans. Food 
too was discovered. The fort had evidently 
prepared for a long siege. There was one 
other prize, a brig called the Adams. With this 
Hull had hoped to make himself master of the 
lakes. Brock converted it into the British Brig 
Detroit. 

The fickle population who had welcomed 
Hull with open arms now shouted just as 
hard for Brock. There were great rejoicings, 
and everywhere the Union Jack was hoisted. 
In the fort there were some captured British 
cannon which had been taken from the British 
in the Revolutionary War. These fired salutes 
in honor of Brock's victory, and the guns 
of the Queen Charlotte replied heartily. 

Brock's first act, almost, after entering the 
captured fort, was characteristic of the man. He 
ordered that Private Dean, who a few days pre- 
viously had distinguished himself at the Canard 
River and had been taken prisoner by the Ameri- 
cans, should be brought before him, and in the 



72 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

presence of the assembled troops warmly congratu- 
lated him on his heroic conduct.* 

The capture of Detroit was a very real victory. 
Had the day gone otherwise, Hull might have 
made his boasted march to Quebec, and that as a 
conqueror. But his march now was as a prisoner 
of war. Brock had dared what looked impossible 
and by a stroke of fortune had won out. His 
victory was an imposingly public one. It cheered 
his men. It made those Canadian inhabitants 
who were hesitating declare definitely for the 
British, while those with leanings towards the 
United States kept silent. It saved Canada 
from invasion at a moment when, owing to the 
shortsightedness of her rulers, she was particularly 
vulnerable. 



*In the general order issued by the commander-in-chief 
at Quebec on August 6th, 1812, the conduct of the 41st 
Regiment is specially praised. Tlie order goes on to say: 
"In justice to that corps, His Excellency wishes particularly 
to call the attention of the troops to the heroism and self- 
devotion displayed by two privates, who, being left as 
sentinels when the party to which they belonged had retired, 
continued to maintain their station against the whole of 
the enemy's force, until they both fell, when one of them, 
whose arm was broken, again raising himself, opposed with 
his bayonet those advancing against him, until overwhelmed 
by numbers," The names of the two privates of the 41st 
were Hancock and Dean 



DETROIT TAKP:N 73 

Brock apprised Sir George Prevost, modestly 
enough, of his victory and wrote to his brothers: 
"Rejoice at my good fortune, and join me in 
prayers to Heaven. I send you a copy of my 
hasty note to Sir George. Let me know that you 
are all united and happy." 



CHAPTER VIII 

His Hands Are Tied 

Bpock's spectacular capture of Fort Detroit 
brought all Canada to his feet. Foremost in 
admiration was Sir George Prevost. Had Brock 
failed, Sir George no doubt, would have been as 
brusque in condemnation as, now that Brock had 
conquered, he was fulsome in praise. He had 
done his best to hamper Brock, and indeed at the 
last minute had sent a staff officer commanding 
him not to undertake the proposed Detroit expedi- 
tion, but the messenger, happily alike for Canada 
and Brock, had failed to arrive in time. Provincial 
authorities and friends rained their congratulations, 
while Lord Bathurst, the British Secretary for 
War and the Colonies, commended him for his 
"firmness, skill, and bravery." Bathurst's case 
was similar to Prevost 's, for he had adjured the 
governor-general by repeated - assages not to 
assume the offensive lest the Americans become 
unduly aggravated and thus possibly have some 
genuine cause of complaint. Nothing could better 

74 



HIS HANDS ARE TIED 75 

show the smallmindedness of the class of ofiBcIal- 
dom to which Bathurst and Prevost belonged than 
their wiUingness, now that victory was achieved, to 
share in the credit therefor. Bathurst wrote to 
Brock that "the Prince Regent had honored him 
for his services by making him an extra Knight of 
the Bath." Unhappily, the man whom the Prince 
thus delighted to honor and who, one likes to 
think, would have honored the order by accepting 
it, died before he received word. 

Brock's victory did something to offset the 
misfortunes which had piled upon the British in 
Europe. Just before the news of the capture of 
Fort Detroit was received in London, Britain had 
been beaten in a naval duel. The American ship 
Constitution had thrashed the British battleship 
Guerriere. The shame which Britain felt on this 
account was deepened by the knowledge that she 
had been beaten on her own element by what was 
once a colony of hers. News of Brock's victory, 
therefore, was opportune, and the British govern- 
ment was able to point out to the people that, if 
America had won a victory on the sea, she had 
more than lost it by the surrender of Detroit. 

October 6th was Brock's birthday, the day on 
which the news of the victory at Detroit reached 
London. Brock's brother William and his wife 



76 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

happened to be walking in a London park, and 
Mrs. Brock asked the reason of the fiag-waving and 
the firing. "Do you not know," said William, 
"that it is Isaac's birthday? It is in honor of 
him." What William said in jest turned out to 
be the very truth. 

If Brock's victory had a happy effect on the 
people of Britain the opposite was the case in the 
United States. The JefTersons, the Clays, and 
the Hulls of the United States had led the people 
to believe that their northerly neighbor could 
very easily be conquered. It was a sad blow to 
American self-esteem when it became known that 
Detroit and Michigan had fallen to a country 
which they had been taught to regard as an enemy 
hardly worth considering. Gloom and discourage- 
ment were everywhere evident, and President 
Madison ordered the churches throughout the 
country to hold services of prayer that success 
might come to American arms. 

Between Black Rock and Fort Niagara part of 
■ the American army was camped. It did nothing 
to hearten them for the task that lay before them 
to see the men whom Brock had taken prisoners 
at Detroit, and who had come by boat to Fort 
Erie, march along the Niagara River to Fort 
George. From there the prisoners were sent down 



' HIS HANDS ARE TIED 77 

the St. Lawrence to Montreal, and In some cases, 
to Quebec. Some Canadian cities, therefore, had 
an opportunity of seeing that when Brock bared his 
arm it was not for nothing. They might indeed 
feel hopeful under such a leader. On the other 
hand, the American army, badly disciplined, ill in 
health, and surprisingly inexperienced were gloomy 
and morose. 

Brock, having left the arrangements for the 
future government of Detroit in the hands of 
Colonel Procter, left for Fort Erie. Hardly had 
his schooner passed Amherstburg when it was 
hailed by the Lady Prevost coming up the lake. 
The commander gave Brock the news that an 
armistice had been concluded between Sir George 
Prevost and the American commander-in-chief, 
General Dearborn, and until President Madison had 
ratified or discountenanced this armistice, all 
actual warfare must cease. 

Brock was dumbfounded. Instead of being 
allowed to finish the task he had got so well under 
way, that of clearing the borders of American 
troops, he found his hands tied. 

General Brock's plans were all laid. Procter, 
whom Brock had left at Detroit, was marching 
against Fort Wayne in the Miami country with 
some regulars and some Indians, and there was little 



78 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

doubt of his success. As the fort contained supplies, 
its capture would seriously hamper American 
operations. Its defenders were few and were in 
deadly fear of a horde of Indians who, intoxicated 
with their success at Detroit, desired only further 
chance to display their prowess. Brock knew that 
they would show the garrison at Fort Wayne no 
quarter, and it was as much to save the lives of the 
men of this garrison as to secure the fort that he 
had despatched Procter. Now, of course, he had 
to countermand his instructions. His plans for 
raiding Sackett's Harbor were likewise spoiled, 
though the capture of that port would have given 
the British complete power over Lake Ontario. 

A personal incident in Brock's voyage to Fort 
Erie showed how mentally distraught he was at 
this time. His schooner, the Chippewa, ran into 
a fog. The commander lost his bearings and, 
when the mist lifted, found himself very near to 
the American shore. No doubt news of the armis- 
tice had not reached as far down the shore as this, 
and had the Americans known of the proximity of 
the victorious British general, they certainly 
would have made an effort to capture the schooner. 
Brock, who was vexed and heart-broken, instantly 
suspected treachery and cried to the captain of 
the Chippewa: "You scoundrel! you have betrayed 



HIS HANDS ARE TIED 79 

me. Let but one shot be fired from that shore 
and," pointing aloft, "1 will run you up on the 
instant to that yard-arm." 

There does not seem room for doubt that the 
captain was quite innocent, and loyal to Brock. 
Luckily the Queen Charlotte, which had preceded 
the Chippewa by several days, heard a shot which 
was fired from the latter and bore down on the 
vessel which held the commanding general. Ulti- 
mately she towed the Chippewa to safety. 

When Brock arrived at York the joy of the 
people knew no bounds. They presented him with 
an address in which they tried to tell him how 
grateful to and proud of him they were. Brock, 
always generous, took little credit to himself for 
the victory, but ascribed it to the confidence he had 
in the loyalty, zeal, and valor of the Canadian 
volunteers. His exact words are worth quoting: 
"I cannot but feel highly gratified by this expres- 
sion of your esteem for myself; but in justice to 
the brave men at whose head I marched against 
the enemy, I must beg leave to direct your atten- 
tion to them as the proper objects of your gratitude. 
It was a confidence founded on their loyalty, 
zeal, and valor, that determined me to adopt the 
plan of operations which led to so fortunate a 
termination. Allow me to congratulate you, gentle- 



80 SIR ISA.\C BROCK 

men, at having sent out from yourselves a large 
portion of that gallant band, and that at such a 
period a spirit had manifested itself on which 
you may conndently repose your hopes of future 
security. It will be a most pleasing duty for me 
to report to our Sovereign conduct so truly 
meritorious." 

Brock went on to Kingston and employed the 
time spent on the schooner, which bore him 
thither, in writing to his brothers. In the letter 
which appears to have been addressed to his brother 
William, he says: "They say that the value of 
the articles will amount to thirty or forty thousand 
pounds; in that case my portion will be something 
considerable. If it enabled me to contribute 
to your comfort and happiness, I shall esteem it 
my highest reward. When I returned Heaven 
thanks for my amazing success, I thought of you 
all; you appeared to me happy — your late sorrows 
forgotten; and I felt as if you acknowledged 
that the many benefits which for a series of years 
I received from you were not unworthily bestowed. 
Let me know, my dearest brothers, that you are 
again united. The want of union was nearly 
losing this province without even a struggle, and 
be assured it operates in the same degree in regard 
to families." 



HIS HANDS ARE TIED 81 

It is well for us that we are able to catch a 
glimpse of the humanity of this man of action. 
Neither political success nor failure, neither mili- 
tary advantage nor setback, could exclude from 
his great heart the thought of the loved ones at 
home. He joyed in his successes, because they 
would bring pleasure and possibly more practical 
gratification to those he loved and who loved him. 
It was a heavy grief to him that his brothers were 
estranged. Though he was never to know it 
they buried their difference. By a strange chance 
this happened upon the very day of Brock's 
glorious death at Queenston. His influence, great 
in many things, was greater in nothing than in 
this, the amity and affectionate regard which his 
brothers came to have for each other. 

At Kingston, Brock learned that the armistice 
arranged by Sir George Prevost and General 
Dearborn had been refused by President Madison. 
September 8th saw the renewal of hostilities 
between the two countries. No doubt Sir George 
had entered into the armistice thinking he acted 
for the best. He appears to have been moved by his 
knowledge that the New England and several other 
States were opposed to the war and also t)y the 
fact that the orders in council, which had been 
the cause of the trouble between the United 



82 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

States and Britain had been repealed. And he 
may have believed that in attempting to avoid a 
conflict in America he was relieving Britain of a 
minor task which was hampering her in her contest 
with Napoleon. But to the student and reader of 
later years the armistice was an utterly foolish move. 

When Brock learned that the armistice had 
come to an end, he proposed to Prevost that he 
immediately attack Sackett's Harbor from King- 
ston. Again the governor-general said him nay, 
and Brock, disheartened and annoyed, returned to 
Fort George there to deal, as best he could, with 
the threatened invasion at Niagara. 

Naturally enough the United States forces had 
made great use of the time granted by the armis- 
tice. In very sight of the British supplies of food 
had been brought up to the American army at 
Lewiston. Heavy guns had been placed at 
strategic points on the American shore. Large 
detachments of troops were sent to the Niagara 
frontier. Ships which had been held at Ogdens- 
burg, covered by the British guns at Prescott, 
had been rushed to Sackett's Harbor. Had there 
been no armistice. General Brock could have 
cleared the Fort Niagara district of enemy troops, 
but now he had, by reason of the delay, to face 
four times as large an army. 



HIS HANDS ARE TIED 83 

Let us take stock of the situation. On the 
shores of the Niagara River, there were enough 
United States troops to have conquered Upper 
Canada. There were over six thousand men 
between Black Rock and Fort Niagara, while 
Brock had only fifteen hundred men, and these 
distributed at several points between Fort Erie 
and Fort George. Thus he had about a quarter 
the number of men of the enemy and while their 
forces were concentrated his were scattered over a 
line forty miles long. Again the odds looked 
against him. Volunteers in Upper Canada, how- 
ever, had rallied to his standard, and he was able 
to arm them by the very arms he had captured 
at Detroit. And once again it should be empha- 
sized that the Canadian forces had much better 
morale than that of the Americans. They felt 
that they had indeed "their quarrel just." More- 
over, they were fighting in defence of their homes 
and famihes. And they had unbounded confidence 
in their commander. 

It came to Brock's ears about October 1st that 
the United States commanders planned their 
invasion somewhere along the British forty mile 
line. It later appeared that Queenston was the 
point decided upon. The plan of attack seems to 
have been to capture Queenston, and there to 



84 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

collect a large army with which, next year, an 
attempt would be made to reach Montreal. Luckily 
for Brock and Canada too many cooks spoil the 
broth. There was dissension in the American 
higher command as to the precise point at which 
the attack should be made. 

The British suffered a loss on October 9th. The 
Americans under Lieutenant Elliott captured two 
British vessels, the Caledonia and the Detroit, 
This victory gave a fillip to the now jaded spirits 
of the United States troops, and General Van 
Rensselaer, now that his men had cheered up, 
decided to invade Canada. This seems to have 
been in disagreement with the views of the other 
American commander, General Smyth. Van 
Reiisselaer sent a spy into the British camp. The 
spy returned with the information that Brock had 
set out, with a large force, for Detroit. The spy, 
however, did his work but poorly. Brock had 
left Fort George, but he had gone only to the 
other end of the line. Fort Erie. 

It still remains somewhat of a mystery why 
Van Rensselaer, who had a large army, did not 
steal along the shore of Lake Ontario, cross the 
Niagara at the mouth and try to catch the tail of 
Brock's army. Instead of this, on October 10th, 
he prepared his boats and got his troops ready to 



HIS HANDS ARE TIED 85 

cross the Niagara River where it whirls and 
swirls at the base of Queenston. The British, on 
the Canadian side, were quite unprepared for the 
attack. Very early in the morning of October 
11th the first boat of American soldiers put out. 
In this boat was Lieutenant Sims. History does 
not tell us what happened to Sims. He may have 
landed on the Canadian side, but it is more likely 
that he was caught in the current and tried to 
return to the American shore. Whatever became 
of him, he had with him the oars for the 
remaining boats, thus preventing his comrades 
following him across the river. To attempt his 
rescue was impossible. They waited till dawn, 
but were finally driven, sodden by the rain and 
terror-stricken by the storm, to their camp. 

Next day a Major Evans, of the British forces, 
presented a flag of truce to Van Rensselaer, which 
truce was for the purpose of exchange of prisoners. 
While this w^as under way, Evans's sharp eye 
noticed that preparations were being made for 
what could not be other than an attack on 
Queenston. He returned to Queenston and 
warned Captain Dennis, commanding the men 
there, that large boats were concealed on the other 
side ready, he thought, for an attack. Brock, 
at Fort George, must also be given news at once, 



86 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

thought Evans, and he hastened away to acquaint 
the commander with what was afoot. 

Evans was right. The fate of the October 11th 
expedition did not deter Van Rensselaer from 
another attempt. This was to be made before 
dawn next day. 



CHAPTER IX 

QuEENSTON Heights 

It has been pointed out that the forces under 
Brock were widely scattered. His main body 
was at Fort George, seven miles from Queenston. 
At Brown's Point, three miles away, there was a 
battery, and a single gun was mounted at Vroo- 
man's Point, a mile distant. In the village of 
Queenston Captain Dennis commanded the grena- 
dier company of the 49th Regiment; Captain 
Chisholm was stationed there with a company of 
the second York; Captain Hall's company of the 
5th Lincoln Militia brought the whole force at 
Queenston to about three hundred men. At a 
vantage point on the height itself was stationed 
Captain Williams with a light company of the 
49th, supporting the crew of a redan battery of 
one eighteen-pounder gun. 

Van Rensselaer was confident of victory. He 
deputed the attack to his cousin, Colonel Solomon 
Van Rensselaer, an officer of the regular army, 
and to Lieutenant-Colonel Christie, who between 

87 



88 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

them commanded six hundred men, half miUtia 
and half regular. The first of these men embarked 
at three o'clock in the morning, when the landscape 
was dark and dismal and rain was falling, in a 
boat from the Lewiston landing. Their oars were 
muffled, but the sentries upon the heights on the 
other side detected their approach. They fired 
into the boat, and the noise brought Captain Den- 
nis and his men at a run. More firing ensued. 
Colonel Van Rensselaer, who was in the leading 
boat, was badly wounded. The invasion was 
checked for the moment, and such Americans as 
had effected a landing were compelled to hide in 
the brush overhanging the bank. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Christie's boats were less fortunate. A 
current carried them down stream, and they had 
to return to Lewiston, to set out again. Under 
Colonel Fenwick a force of regulars followed the 
advance party, but their boat was swept below 
Queenston and beached there. The defenders on 
the height had it at their mercy and fired, wounding 
Fenwick and eventually compelling the surrender 
of the whole boatful. Another boat which landed 
at Vrooman's Point met the same fate. 

The defenders' guns, while they warned the 
Canadians also warned those American soldiers 
still at Lewiston of the opposition to the invading 



QUEENSTON HEIGHTS 89 

force.. The gunners at Lewiston opened fire on 
Queenston Heights, in an endeavor to cover the 
landing of the attacking troops, whiJe the Canadian 
batteries kept on with their grim work of firing 
volleys into the boats in midstream. Meanwhile 
Brock at Fort George was uneasy. He had sat 
up most of the night of October 12th making his 
plans and writing despatches. He seems to have 
expected an engagement almost immediately, for 
he wrote a letter to his brother about it in which 
he said: "If I should be beaten the province is 
inevitably gone." He had hardly gone to sleep on 
the night of October 12th when the sentry, who 
had heard the firing at Queenston, aroused him. 
So it had come! He wasted no time, but was soon 
galloping, unattended, under darkling skies and 
pouring rain, to Queenston. 

Captain Cameron was at Brown's Point with a 
body of men, watching the battle anxiously. A 
messenger came to him and urged that immediate 
word be sent to General Brock. Lieutenant 
Jarvis put spurs to his horse and galloped away, 
intent on getting to Fort George in the shortest 
possible time. He had not gone very far before, 
through the darkness and fnist, he discerned the 
general. Brock was riding hard, anxiety on his 
face, index to the fear he felt for Canada. He did not 



90 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

even stop but, motioning to Jarvis to turn his 
horse and follow, kept on in his grim journey, 
jarvis caught up to the general, and, as they were 
galloping, he gave Brock his portentous news. 
Dawn was just breaking when Brock told Jarvis 
to hasten to Fort George with instructions to Major- 
G;5neral Sheafife to bring his whole reserves to 
Queenston. He also ordered Jarvis to tell the 
Indians at Fort George to occupy the wood on 
the right when Sheaffe's troops came on. Brock 
wasted no time in getting to Brown's Point. On 
the way he passed a company of the York Volun- 
teers and instructed Captain Cameron, command- 
ing them, to follow him immediately. He sped 
on past Vrooman's Point, hastily acquainting 
Captain Heward with what had happened, and 
was very soon at Queenston. He climbed the 
Heights to the point where the redan battery was 
stationed, so that from there he could command a 
view of the stream. 

In the village of Queenston Captains Chisholm, 
Dennis, and Hall were making a brave fight of it 
against superior forces. Brock, seeing their predi- 
cament, detached Captain Williams and his men and 
sent them to help. This left him unprotected, 
except for eight artillerymen. Day had dawned 
and turning his head, Brock a > above him, on 



QUEENSTON HEIGHTS 91 

the summit of the heights, a detachment of about 
sixty American soldiers. The odds were too 
great, and the general, with his artillerymen and the 
crew of the eighteen-pounder gun, returned to the 
village, leaving the gun behind. The British 
had made one mistake. They had left a path 
leading up the bank of the river to the heights 
unguarded. They had deemed it too difficult for 
an attacking force to climb, but this underesti- 
mation of the courage of the enemy cost them 
dearly. Captain Wool, a United States regular 
army officer, reached the summit, and it was he 
and his sixty men that Brock saw. 

Meanwhile, the battery and the infantry in 
Queenston village were keeping the invaders at 
bay with great difficulty. The eighteen-pounder 
had been left behind, and Brock, who as we have 
seen, knew the inspiration of personal e¥:ample, 
decided himself to win the gun back. With two 
companies of the 49th and a hundred militiamen 
he set out for the Heights, crying: "Follow me 
boys." At the base of the hill he rested his men. 
A little later he dismounted, climbed over a low 
stone wall, and, his sword flashing, charged up 
the hill in front of his men. 

Captain Wool had been reinforced and now had 
four hundred men under his command. One of 



92 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

these men stepped in front of the rest and shot 
down General Brock. The bullet struck him in 
the right breast near the heart. The wound was 
fatal, and the death of their comm&pder, more 
perhaps than the continuous fire poured upon 
them from the heights, forced the British to retire. 
The underestimation of the enemy had indeed 
been costly. 

Some discrepancy exists as to what were Brock's 
last words. According to Lieutenant Jarvis, who 
was immediately at his side when he fell, with the 
question: "Are you hurt. Sir?" Brock did not 
reply, but, pressing his hand to his chest, "slowly 
sank down." This is the most probable version, 
as it is likely that he was wounded too severely 
to say anything at all. Others have it, however, 
that, just before he died Brock cried: "Push on, 
brave York Volunteers!" This story probably 
has its origin in the early shout to Captain Cameron, 
to bring up his men. Captain Glegg, who 
acquainted William Brock the next day with the 
news of the General's death, said that, as he fell 
Brock whispered: "My fall must not be noticed or 
impede my brave companions from advancing to 
victory." It is not likely, however, that a plain 
man like Brock would have struck an attitude so 
dramatic. The story of Lieutenant Jarvis seems 



QUEENSTON HEICxHTS 93 

most nearly to fit the case. Whatever he said or 
did not say, this man of action died as he had lived, 
bravely and as a man. 

Brock's death filled his men with a just rage, and 
before night the cry, "Revenge the General!" was 
heard from one end of the forty mile line to the 
other. His spirit breathed "an inextinguishable 
flame," and the soldiers at Fort George drove the 
Americans out with little trouble. At Fort Erie, 
the men behind the guns, saddened and awed by 
the death of their beloved leader, redoubled their 
efforts on the Americans at Black Rock. 

The force which Brock himself had been leading 
had to retreat, leaving behind the gun which had 
cost them their leader's life. With them they 
bore his body to Queenston. When his men 
looked at his corpse they might say as Antony 
did of Caesar's body, "Here is himself, marr'd," 
and the sight of this "bleeding piece of earth" 
spurred them on in his name and for his sake. 

His men tried again, after his death, to take 
that fateful gun. Vrooman's Point and Brown's 
Point furnished their quotas of York Volunteers 
to reinforce the troops from Queenston, as Brock 
had commanded, and about ten o'clock, under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, Brock's aide-de- 
camp, another attack was made on the Americans 



94 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

on Queenston Heights. This too was unsuccessful. 
Again the troops had to retreat, while their leader 
v/as mortally wounded. 

The Americans were sure that they had won a 
great victory. Messengers were despatched to 
Albany with the tidings of the death of Brock 
and Macdonell, and the city gave itself up to 
rejoicings. But the joy was premature. 

It became apparent to Van Rensselaer, who 
with Lieutenant-Colonel Christie had seen, from 
the captured redan battery, a long line of Canadians 
marching to Queenston, that another battle was 
inevitable. These were the reinforcements moving 
to the front under the command of Major-General 
Sheaffe. Van Rensselaer crossed the river, but was 
met with a fiat refusal from his men to cross the 
stream to the Canadian side. The New York 
militia, who by this time had seen their dead and 
wounded and had heard, justly enough, of the 
bravery of the "Green Tigers" — this was the 
name given to the men of the 49th because of the 
green in their uniforms — were terror-stricken. 
While Van Rensselaer was alternately persuading 
and threatening, a force of Indians, commanded by 
Brant and a young Scotsman, Chief Norton, who 
had been made an Indian Chief, had quietly left 
Fort George, climbed the Heights, and showed 



QUEENSTON HEIGHTS 95 

themselves on the left of the Americans. There 
were not enough of them to do very much real 
harm, but they appear to have stricken fear into 
the heart of the enemy by their wild cries and to 
have caught a number of them and punished them 
pretty severely. 

Major-General Sheaffe commanded about seven 
hundred men. When he had looked over the 
situation, he decided that the best attack could be 
made from the rear. He therefore placed some 
artillery under Lieutenant Holcroft in a courtyard 
in the village of Queenston, to check any attempt 
the foe made to cross. Along the Chippewa road 
near the Niagara river troops were advancing to 
join Sheaffe. About one hundred and fifty Indians 
had moved eastwards from the little town of St. 
David's and were lying in ambush in the woods on 
the enemy's right front. Sheaffe himself advanced 
with forces now numbering about a thousand. 
The enemy were therefore in a position to be 
attacked from all sides. 

The conflict began again at three o'clock, and 
the opening shot seems to have been fired by the 
troops in Queenston who trained their guns on the 
river. At the same time the men on the British 
left attacked the enemy's front. They were 
guided by Indians, who knew every inch of the 



96 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

ground on the west of the hill. These guides led 
Sheaffe's men through the heavy woods, so that 
they might attack on this flank. This would be 
quite unexpected by the enemy. The Niagara 
militia with two guns and a company from the 
41st Regiment, were on the right. The York and 
Lincoln militia, backed up by the 49th, were in 
the middle. A company of negroes, refugees 
from the United States, gave material assistance to 
the British. The six hundred American soldiers 
on Queenston Heights were surprised. Instead of 
an attack from down-stream they had to face 
one from the left. They were caught like rats in 
a trap, but fought valiantly. They saw that 
escape was impossible, for the swift current flowed 
behind them and they had no boats to take them 
back to the American shore. Besides, the}/ faced 
almost double the number of men. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Winfield Scott of the regular army was 
their commander, and he was a brave man. His 
men fired on the advancing Canadians, but Scott 
knew he was outnumbered. To the accompani- 
ment of the savage cries of the Indians, Sheaffe's 
men came on in a determined bayonet charge. 
The Americans broke in disorder. They had 
many dead and dying already, and the rest turned 
tail and ran to the edge of the precipice. Half 



QUEENSTON HEIGHTS 97 

crazed, many threw themselves over. The rest 
made for the river bank, but there were no boats, 
and their only way of escape was by way of swim- 
ming. Few were able to breast the current, and 
many perished in the cruel stream. The Ameri- 
cans were badly beaten, and Scott, having made a 
brave fight, surrendered all his men then on the 
Canadian side to General Sheaffe. It is ten 
thousand pities that the gallant Brock was not 
there to see the result of the work of his hands. 

The British took nearly a thousand prisoners, 
among whom was General Wadsworth and about 
seventy other ofhcers. The British on their side 
had lost eleven killed and something like sixty 
wounded. The Indians, no less gallant, had 
losses of five killed and nine wounded. History 
differs as to the American casualties. There were 
probably nearly a hundred killed and about two 
hundred wounded. So the inextinguishable flame 
of Brock's spirit had blazed the way to victory, for 
Queenston Heights was a great victory. Canada, 
however, grieved so much at the death of Brock, 
that not even the feat of arms of his successor 
mitigated her sorrow. 

To the Americans the death of Brock was 
"equivalent to a victory." President Madison, in 
his next message to Congress, said: "Our loss at 



98 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

Queenston has been considerable and is to be 
deeply lamented. The enemy's loss, less ascer- 
tained, will be the more felt for it includes among 
the killed their commanding general." 

After the battle Brock's body was taken from 
Queenston to Fort George. It was buried under 
one of the bastions of the fort, and beside it was 
laid the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell. 
During the burial of Canada's great general, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Winfield Scott, now a prisoner, 
sent a request to the officer commanding the 
United States troops that the flag at Fort Niagara 
be flown at half-mast as was the Canadian flag at 
Fort George, and when the Canadian guns boomed 
out their respect for the dead general the American 
guns responded. 



CHAPTER X 

Conclusion 

If Brock's prowess at Detroit called forth 
universal admiration, his death was the occasion of 
a wonderful outpouring of affectionate regard and 
regret. When the news reached England Earl 
Bathurst wrote to Sir George Prevost: "His 
Majesty has lost in him not only an able and 
meritorious officer, but one who displayed qualities 
admirably adapted to dismay the disloyal, to 
reconcile the wavering, and to animate the great 
mass of the inhabitants against successive attempts 
of the enemy to invade the province." Nor was 
British gratitude a matter of words only. On 
July 20th, 1813, the House of Commons voted a 
monument to Brock in appreciation of what he 
had done. The monument, at a cost of £1,575, 
was erected in St. Paul's cathedral. Each of 
Brock's four brothers was granted twelve thousand 
acres of land in Upper Canada, and a pension of 
£200 a year for life. A memorial coin was struck 
in Brock's honor. Thus Great Britain tried to 

99 



100 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

show how much she thought of the man who had 
held his Ufe so Hghtly beside the safety and honor 
of the Empire. 

In Canada the sorrow was just as great and 
more immediate. Colonel Nichol, Brock's militia 
quarter-master, wrote of his death: "Our situation 
has materially changed for the worse. Confidence 
seems to have vanished, and gloom and despon- 
dency seem to have taken its place." "His 
moderation and impartiality had united all parties 
in pronouncing him the only man worthy to be at 
the head of affairs" was the tribute of Lieutenant 
Ridout, who himself fought bravely at Queenston 
Heights. The newspapers of Canada were gen- 
uinely sorrowful, and the Quebec Gazette declared 
his death was received as "a public calamity." 

A lasting mark of Canada's esteem was to be 
found in a fine monument erected on Queenston 
Heights. This column which was 135 feet high, 
and stood 485 feet above the river, covered a vault 
to which, on October 13th, 1824 — just twelve 
years after his death — Brock's remains and 
those of his gallant aide were removed. On 
the occasion of this transference, a great crowd, 
in which were almost as many Americans as 
Canadians, gathered to honor the memory of 
Canada's great general. 



CONCLUSION 101 

This monument unhappily was entirely ruined 
through the agency of a man named Lett who, on 
April 17th, 1840, exploded gunpowder under it. 
This man was one of the rebels of 1837 who fled to 
the United States when his sedition was discovered. 
The motives that animated him were petty and 
spiteful, but if he thought that by destroying the 
outward and visible sign of Brock's wonderful work, 
he was besmirching the memory of a great man. 
he was very wrong. Canadians flocked to Queen- 
ston, and at a public meeting there it was decided 
to build a monument even more imposing than 
the one so meanly destroyed. The foundation 
stone for this new monument was laid in 1853 
and it was completed three years later. The 
formal inauguration took place on October 13th. 
1859. From its base to its summit, a splendid 
image of Brock, the monument is 190 feet in height. 

So this man of action has been honored, but 
the greatest monument to his deed and his memory 
is in the hearts of the Canadian people. Canada 
may well be proud of him, for he saved our country 
in a very real and vital sense. He managed to 
crowd the few short years he was in Canada full 
of earnest and devoted service to the country he 
had adopted and had come to love. The splendor 
of his achievement shines out as a beacon, at once 



102 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

drawing attention to itself as a proof that Canada 
had its great ones a hundred years ago, and im- 
posing on all Canadians the same high privilege 
of doing something to make glorious and keep 
stainless the fair name of their country. 

Reuben Butchart, a Canadian poet of power, has 
written a sonnet in commemoration of Brock, and 
this little book could not leave a better message 
with its readers than the beautiful words and even 
more beautiful thoughts that this poet gives us: 

On Queenston's hill we reared thy lofty shrine, 

Where sleeps thy fiery heart, our gallant Brock. 

Our many-voiced acclaim shall here unlock 
Time's chest of honors, proffering what is thine. 
Thy name is with the glorious names that shine 

O'er War's red flood, a beacon on a rock. 

Thy soul, which bore its hour's consummate 
shock. 
All valorous thou did'st to fame consign. 

Sheathed be the blade, nor seek through blood a 
name 
Our foes are of our household; mingled rife 
Through hourly needs there rings the vital strife 
With doubt and sin, the lust of honor, shame: 
O soul, live greatly; thy self -conquering life 
Shall breathe an inextinguishable flame. 



APPENDIX 



GENERAL HULL'S PROCLAMATION 

"Inhabitants of Canada! After thirty years of peace and 
prosperity, the Uaited States have been driven to arms. 
The injuries and aggressions, the insults and indignities of 
Great Britain, have once more left them no alternative but 
manly resistance or unconditional submission. 

"The army under my command has invaded your country, 
and the standard of Union now waves over the territory of 
Canada. To the peaceable, unoffending inhabitant it 
brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies, 
not to make them. I come to protect, not to injure you. 

"Separated by an immense ocean and an extensive wilder- 
ness from Great Britain, you have no participation in her 
councils, no interest in her conduct. You have felt her 
tyranny, you have seen her injustice, but I do not ask you 
to avenge the one or redress the other. The United States 
are sufficiently powerful to afford you every security 
consistent with their rights and your expectations. I tender 
you the invaluable blessings of civil, political, and religious 
liberty, and their necessary result, individual and general 
prosperity — that liberty which gave decision to our councils 
and energy to our struggle for independence, and which 
conducted us safely and triumphantly through the stormy 
period of the revolution; that liberty which has raised us 
to an elevated rank among the nations of the world, and 

103 



104 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

which has afforded us a greater measure of peace and security, 
of wealth and improvement, than ever yet fell to the lot of 
any people. 

"In the name of my country, and by the authority of my 
government, I promise protection to your persons, property, 
and rights. Remain at your homes, pursue your peaceful 
and customary avocations, raise not your hands against 
your brethren. Many of your fathers fought for the freedom 
and independence which we now enjoy. Being children, 
therefore, of the same family with us, and heirs to the same 
heritage, the arrival of an army of friends must be hailed 
by you with a cordial welcome. You will be emancipated 
from tyranny and oppression and restored to the dignified 
station of freemen. Had I any doubt of eventual success 
I might ask your assistance, but I do not. I come prepared 
for every contingency. I have a force which will look down 
all opposition, and that force is but the vanguard of a much 
greater. If, contrary to your own interests and the just 
expectation of my country, you should take part in the 
approaching contest, you will be considered and treated as 
enemies, and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk 
before you. If the barbarous and savage policy of Great 
Britain be pursued, and the savages be let loose to murder 
our citizens and butcher our women and children, this war 
will be a war of extermination. The first stroke of the 
tomahawk, the first attempt with the scalping-knife, will be 
the signal of one indiscriminate scene of desolation. No 
whit^ man found fighting by the side of an Indian will be 
taken prisoner; instant destruction will be his lot. If the 
dictates of reason, duty, justice, and humanity cannot prevent 
the employment of a force which respects no rights and 
knows no wrong, it will be prevented by a severe and relent- 
less system of retaliation. 

"I doubt not your courage and firmness. I will not 
doubt your attachment to liberty. If you tender your 



APPENDIX 105 

services voluntarily, they will be accepted readily. The 
United States offer you peace, liberty, and security. Your 
choice lies between these and war, slavery, and destruction. 
Choose then, but choose wisely, and may He who knows 
the justice of our cause, and who holds in His hands the 
fate of nations guide you to a result the most compatible 
with your rights and interests, your peace and prosperity. 

"By the General, 

"W. HULL, 

"A. F. HULL, 
" Captain 13th Regiment U.S. Infantry and Aide-de-Carap." 
"Headquarters, Sandwich, 12th July, 1812." 



BROCK'S PROCLAMATION 

"The unprovoked declaration of war by the United States 
of America against the LTnited Kingdom of Great Britain 
and Ireland and its dependencies has been followed by the 
actual invasion of this province, in a remote frontier of the 
western district, by a detachment of the armed force of the 
United States. 

"The officer commanding that detachment has thought 
proper to invite His Majesty's subjects, not merely to a quiet 
and unresisting submission, but insults them with a call to 
seek voluntarily the protection of his government. 

"Without condescending to repeat the illiberal epithets 
bestowed in this appeal of the American commander to the 
people of Upper Canada, on the administration of His 
Majesty, every honest inhabitant of the province is desired 



106 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

to seek the confutation of such indecent slander in the review 
of his own particular circumstances. Where is the Canadian 
subject who can truly affirm to himself that he has been 
injured by the government in his person, his property, or 
his liberty? Where is to be found, in any j^art of the world, 
a growth so rapid in prosperity and wealth as this colony 
exhibits? Settled not thirty years by a band of veterans 
exiled from their former possessions on account of their 
loyalty, not a descendant of these brave people is to be found 
who, under the fostering liberality of their sovereign, has not 
acquired a property and means of enjoyment superior to 
what were possessed by their ancestors. This unequalled 
prosperity would not have been attained by the utmost 
liberality of the government, or the persevering industry 
of the people, had not the maritime power of the mother 
country secured to its colonists a safe access to every market 
where the produce of their labor was in request. The unavoid- 
able and immediate consequences of a separation from 
Great Britain must be the loss of this inestimable advantage; 
and what is offered you in exchange? To become a territory 
of the United States, and share with them that exclusion 
from the ocean which the policy of their government enforces; 
you are not even flattered with a participation of their boasted 
independence, and it is but too obvious that, once estranged 
from the powerful protection of the United Kingdom, you 
must be re-annexed to the dominion of France, from which 
the provinces of Canada were wrested by the arms of Great 
Britain, at a vast expense of blood and treasure, from no 
other motive than to relieve her ungrateful children from 
the oppression of a cruel neighbor. This restitution of 
Canada to the empire of France was the stipulated rev/ard 
for the aid afforded to the revolted colonies, now the United 
States. The debt is still due, and there can be no doubt 
that the pledge has been renewed as a consideration for com- 
mercial advantages, or rather for an expected relaxation of 



APPENDIX 107 

the tyranny of France over the commercial world. Are 
you prepared, inhabitants of Canada, to become willing 
subjects — or rather slaves — to the despot who rules the 
nations of continental Europe with a rod of iron? If not, 
arise in a body, exert your energies, co-operate cordially 
with the king's regular forces to repel the invader, and do 
not give cause to your children, when groaning under the 
oppression of a foreign master, to reproach you with havmg 
so easily parted with the richest inheritance of this earth — a 
participation in the name, character, and freedom of Britons. 
"The same spirit of justice, which will make every reason- 
able allowance for the unsuccessful efforts of zeal and loyalty, 
will not fail to punish the defalcation of principle. Every 
Canadian freeholder is, by deliberate choice, bound by the 
most solemn oaths to defend the monarchy as well as his 
own property. To shrink from that engagement is a treason 
not to be forgiven. Let no man suppose that if, in this 
unexpected struggle. His Majesty's arms should be Cv n- 
pelled to yield to an overwhelming force, the province will 
be eventually abandoned; the endeared relation of its first 
settlers, the intrinsic value of its commerce, and the preten- 
sion of its powerful rival to repossess the Canadas, are 
pledges that no peace will be established between the United 
States and Great Britain and Ireland, of which the restoration 
of these provinces does not make the most prominent condi- 
tion. Be not dismayed at the unjustifiable threat of the 
commander of the enemy's forces to refuse quarter should 
an Indian appear in the ranks. The brave band of aborigines 
who inhabit this colony were, like His Majesty's other sub- 
jects, punished for their zeal and fidelity by the loss of their 
possessions in the late colonies, and rewarded by His 
Majesty with lam's of superior value in this province. The 
faith of the British government has never yet been violated; 
the Indians' feel that the soil they inherit is to them and 
their posterity protected from the base arts so frequently 



108 SIR ISAAC BROCK 

devised to over-reach their simplicity. By what new prin- 
ciple are they to be prohibited from defending their property? 
If their warfare, from being different to that of the white 
people, be more terrific to the enemy, let him retrace his 
steps. They seek him not, and he cannot expect to find 
women and children in an invading army. But they are 
men, and have equal rights with all other men to defend 
themselves and their property when invaded, more espe- 
cially when they find in the enemy's camp a ferocious and 
mortal foe using the same warfare which the American 
commander affects to reprobate. The inconsistent and 
unjustifiable threat of refusing quarter, for such a cause as 
being found in arms with a brother sufferer in defence of 
invaded rights, must be exercised with the certain assurance 
of retaliation, not only in the limited operations of war in 
this part of the king's dominions, but in every quarter of 
the globe; for the national character of Britain is not less 
distinguished for humanity than strict retributive justice, 
which will consider the execution of this inhuman threat as 
deliberate murder, for which every subject of the offending 
power must make expiation."- 



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